An artist's rendering of the proposed ad that will be projected onto the Sydney Opera House.Racing NSW
A plan to project a horse racing advertisement on the sails of the Sydney Opera House "is dividing Australians," according to the AP. The New South Wales state government "stepped in to allow the advertisement to be displayed" after Sydney Opera House CEO Louise Herron opposed it. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said that the advertising for The Everest horse race had been "toned down'' since its original proposal. Berejiklian said, "It's important for us to support our major events, it's important for us to promote New South Wales but, of course, do it in good taste and I believe that tomorrow evening strikes that right balance." While some have defended the promotion as having "economic benefits," others said that it is "crass commercialism and threatens the iconic building's value as a World Heritage site" (AP, 10/8). In Sydney, Anna Caldwell reported death threats and guerrilla protest plans have "forced police to upgrade security" around Tuesday's planned Opera House light show. Racing NSW CEO Peter V'landys said, "Some people have issued death threats and violence -- we can have differences of opinion but I don't think it's necessary to resort to that type of thing. Everyone's entitled to protest but make sure you protest without violence. This is not a permanent display -- it's six minutes." Police are also monitoring a number of Facebook groups organizing protesters "armed with lights and torches to ruin the light show." Politicians from both major parties "called for calm," saying that it made sense for Sydney to use its best assets to support the A$13M ($9.2M) race, "one of the biggest sport events on its calendar" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 10/8).
'PROBABLY ILLEGAL': In Sydney, Deborah Cornwall reported the NSW Heritage Trust claimed the use of the Opera House sails to promote the race in Australia was "probably illegal" despite major companies using the sails before. The warning is "unlikely to stop" the sails from lighting up on Tuesday after Berejiklian "dug in" and said that she was "confident and comfortable" with her government's decision to promote the race which generates A$100M ($70.7M) for the state. Heritage Trust Conservation Dir Graham Quint said that the NSW Heritage Act made it clear that projecting colors and images on the Opera House sails should be "confined to exceptional, non-commercial occasions of brief duration" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 10/8).
