Editorial: Opponents to projecting Everest onto the Opera House are being absurd
The furore over projecting the barrier draw for The Everest onto the sails of the Sydney Opera House in a bid to attract global attention for the great race reached ridiculous proportions over the weekend, with some in a lather over the use of the Harbour icon to promote a sporting event.
Opinion
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The furore over projecting the barrier draw for The Everest onto the sails of the Sydney Opera House in a bid to attract global attention for the great race reached ridiculous proportions over the weekend, with some in a lather over the use of the Harbour icon to promote a sporting event.
But a voice of reason emerged through the cacophony of critics yesterday.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison came out with the strongest reason yet to support the plan — it is just “common sense”.
The PM blasted those who are against the decision to promote one of the world’s great sporting spectacles, saying those opposed to the plan should stop being so “precious”.
“I come from a tourism background and these events generate massive economic opportunities for the state,” the Prime Minister said.
“I mean, it’s just common sense. And I don’t know why people are getting so precious about it.”
The idea has bipartisan support and has been backed by NSW Labor leader Luke Foley and federal Labor shadow minister Anthony Albanese.
The objections to the event border on the absurd. It is as though part of the problem is an attitude that somehow a great horse race — indeed the world’s richest on turf — is less of a cultural experience than a night at the opera, even though getting frocked up and drinking champagne is part of the fun of both events. And it is certainly not without precedent for the world-renowned sails of the Opera House to be used to promote sporting events. It has been done in support of the Wallabies and the Olympics.
It is also not unheard of for the building to be lit up in the name of an advertising dollar, with Samsung involved in a paid promotion to endorse its products on the sails.
While some have objected to the promotion on the grounds that the Opera House should not be associated with gambling, the fact is the building itself would not exist were it not for the Opera House Lottery Number 1, which raised the necessary funds for its construction after previous appeals failed.
The Opera House is part of the beating heart of our city which is enjoyed, not just by the those taking in highbrow performances, but average Sydneysiders and tourists alike.
Let all of us embrace it.
MOUNTAIN G.O.A.T IN MAKING
That early promise was fully realised during a brilliant subsequent 24 years at the very peak of Australian motor racing. And yesterday Lowndes won for a seventh time at Bathurst in his final 1000km appearance as a lead driver.
Lowndes will be back in future years as a co-driver and may well add to his victory total. His is one of the greatest stories in our nation’s sporting history.
NO DEFENCE FOR DRUG USE
No place in Australia is safe from the scourge of ice, it seems, not even the barracks of the ADF.
In shocking numbers revealed today in The Daily Telegraph, ice and speed have become the number one drug abused by our serving soldiers, with 133 members of the ADF testing positive in the last year alone. These results have led to 28 discharges and another 87 troops still under formal investigation. The numbers are indeed shocking — there is no other word for it.
And yes, there are a variety of factors which might lead someone to abuse substances, including stress and mental illness. Here there may be more of a role for ADF brass to play in terms of prevention.
But while there is no doubt the majority the brave men and women of our fighting forces do the right thing, that doesn’t change the fact they should all be models not just of physical fitness and mental preparedness but of upstanding behaviour as well. None of these three things is truly possible when someone is using illegal drugs like speed and ice.