Behind the scenes of Saudi Arabia hosting Formula One races.
According to Al-Waqi ‘Al-Saudi, Saudi Arabia is scheduled to hold the big race of 2021 in December in the port city of Jeddah in the Red Sea, which will be the fastest track in the history of Formula 1.
“We were able to design a fast and challenging track,” said Prince Khalid bin Sultan al-Faisal, president of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation. Under the floodlights, drivers are faced with a circuit of more than six kilometers, which passes through the beautiful coastline of the city and has 27 turns and an average speed of about 252 kilometers per hour.
Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Faisal hopes that this great competition in Saudi Arabia will attract the young generation of this country. According to a 2020 report by the General Statistics Office, 67% of young people in Saudi Arabia are under 35 years old.
“There are a lot of Formula 1 fans in Saudi Arabia,” he said.
The first major Formula One race in Saudi Arabia is one of the few races to be held in the Arab Gulf countries, along with Bahrain and Abu Dhabi.
“We are not afraid to compete with other countries in the region,” al-Faisal said.
For the first time, Formula One races will be held this fall in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is believed to have invested more than $ 1.5 billion in such “sports laundering” events. This is an opportunity for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to paint a picture of Saudi Arabia, which has come under fire in recent years for its weak human rights record, the war in Yemen, and the October 2018 assassination of critical Saudi journalist Jamal Khashgeji. Renew.
But the fact is that Saudi Arabia seeks to mislead the public about the Saudi record of human rights by holding these competitions. Muhammad ibn Salman intends to create a sense of national belonging and consolidate his position as the future king.
Grant Liberty, a human rights organization, says Saudi Arabia has spent at least $ 1.5 billion on sports; Activities such as chess to golf and tennis cost Saudi Arabia $ 60 million alone, as well as the world’s most expensive horse racing competition with a $ 20 million prize.
Formula One drivers have not yet commented on Saudi Arabia’s $ 1050 million 10-year contract, having previously asked about the venue.
A Formula One race organizer said he had already met with some drivers to discuss their concerns about the Saudi human rights case.
The decision to hold the competition in Saudi Arabia was criticized by organizations such as Amnesty International, which stressed that sporting events are part of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts to improve its image internationally.
Amnesty International’s campaign manager in the United Kingdom, Felix Gickens, has warned of Formula One races in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, saying Formula One organizers must understand that the “Saudi Grand Prix 2021” is part of a continuing effort to cover up the blacklist. Human rights in this country.
The tournament will take place in Saudi Arabia at a time when the Saudi regime’s inhumane treatment of political prisoners and dissidents and their widespread repression have provoked widespread protests from human rights organizations.
