“When a country hosts a Formula One event, it won’t cover up whatever the issues of the day might be. On the other hand, it will put the country on the map and give an opportunity to showcase tourism, innovation, maybe an internal dynamic to be able to show the local population that you are stepping out onto the world stage. There’s a whole series of strategic imperatives or merits as to why you would embark on that. The fact that there may be some media criticism, they’re probably used to it.”

-Michael Payne, Former IOC marketing boss. [Sports Business Journal]