World Athletics President and two-time Olympic gold medallist, Lord Sebastian Coe, has delivered a blistering critique of the burgeoning Las Vegas Grand Prix, branding the spectacle as fundamentally at odds with the spirit of true sporting competition.
In a candid interview, the former middle-distance runner and head of World Athletics did not mince his words, describing the planned F1 event as "vulgar" and a crass display of excess. Lord Coe asserted that the Las Vegas race represents everything that sport should not be, prioritising glamour and commercialism over genuine athletic endeavour.
A Stark Contrast: Backing Budapest's Olympic Vision
Lord Coe's condemnation of the Las Vegas project stands in sharp contrast to his fervent support for a different bid. He passionately endorsed Budapest's campaign to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Praising the Hungarian capital's "very strong" proposal, Coe highlighted its focus on a compact Games and a clear, compelling vision for the future of the Olympic movement. His backing provides a significant boost to Budapest's ambitions, leveraging his immense experience and credibility from his role in delivering the London 2012 Olympics.
Defining the 'Vulgar' Spectacle
So, what exactly drew Lord Coe's ire? His criticism appears rooted in the perceived prioritisation of showmanship over substance. The Las Vegas Grand Prix, with its planned circuit racing past iconic casinos and hotels on the famous Strip, is seen by critics as the epitome of sport as pure entertainment—a move that Coe believes risks undermining the core values of athletic competition.
For a figure like Coe, whose legacy is built on athletic purity and Olympic ideals, the Vegas event represents a path he is clearly unwilling to endorse.
The Ripple Effect in the Sporting World
Lord Coe's forceful comments are more than just the opinion of a seasoned sports administrator; they are a powerful intervention in an ongoing debate about the soul of modern sport. As commercial pressures grow, his stance serves as a reminder of the tension between preserving sporting integrity and pursuing global expansion and lucrative deals.
His unequivocal support for Budapest's athlete-centric model over Las Vegas's entertainment-driven spectacle sets a clear benchmark for what he believes constitutes a legitimate and valuable sporting event.
