Cable theft at Madring circuit raises doubts over Spain's F1 project
The theft of wiring at the Madring circuit, which aims to host Formula 1 in Spain, has triggered a wave of mockery and exposed security flaws at the construction site.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Madring wiring stolen and Madrid wonders what country it lives in
What does it say about a country that its grandiose project to host Formula 1 gets raided for a few metres of copper? The Madring street circuit, the project meant to bring top-level motorsport back to the Spanish capital, already has its first high-profile incident: the theft of wiring from its construction site. And the reactions, it must be said, were not long in coming.
A minor theft with a disproportionate cost
The value of copper on the black market explains why construction sites are a juicy target; the real cost to the project lies not in the material, but in the delay to deadlines and the image it projects. A Formula 1 circuit under construction is a permanent shop window, and someone walking off with the cable while the grandstands were going up has something of an uncomfortable metaphor about it. The material loss will probably be recoverable; the trust, not so much.
A "third world" country, or sarcasm as consolation
There was no need to wait for the police report: the popular verdict has already been delivered. The label "third world" appears again and again, with nuances ranging from resignation to reproach towards the political class. Some point out that incompetence and corruption run rampant, while others joke about the euphemism of "people at risk of exclusion" rather than biting their tongues. The sarcasm, in any case, has swallowed any serious analysis.
Perimeter security, or how to protect a shop window
The incident reopens the question of how infrastructure that will be an international showcase on grand prix day is protected. It is not just a matter of private security guards or fencing: it is the image of a country that stakes part of its brand on every global event. The fact that the theft peine at the very start of the works does little to dispel doubts about the organisation.
Given this track record, perhaps the only thing they won't steal is the show. Or perhaps that too, if copper keeps rising. Meanwhile, Madrid hopes the thieves don't ask for seats in the grandstand.
What does it say about a country that its grandiose project to host Formula 1 gets raided for a few metres of copper? The Madring street circuit, the project meant to bring top-level motorsport back to the Spanish capital, already has its first high-profile incident: the theft of wiring from its construction site. And the reactions, it must be said, were not long in coming.
A minor theft with a disproportionate cost
The value of copper on the black market explains why construction sites are a juicy target; the real cost to the project lies not in the material, but in the delay to deadlines and the image it projects. A Formula 1 circuit under construction is a permanent shop window, and someone walking off with the cable while the grandstands were going up has something of an uncomfortable metaphor about it. The material loss will probably be recoverable; the trust, not so much.
A "third world" country, or sarcasm as consolation
There was no need to wait for the police report: the popular verdict has already been delivered. The label "third world" appears again and again, with nuances ranging from resignation to reproach towards the political class. Some point out that incompetence and corruption run rampant, while others joke about the euphemism of "people at risk of exclusion" rather than biting their tongues. The sarcasm, in any case, has swallowed any serious analysis.
Perimeter security, or how to protect a shop window
The incident reopens the question of how infrastructure that will be an international showcase on grand prix day is protected. It is not just a matter of private security guards or fencing: it is the image of a country that stakes part of its brand on every global event. The fact that the theft peine at the very start of the works does little to dispel doubts about the organisation.
Given this track record, perhaps the only thing they won't steal is the show. Or perhaps that too, if copper keeps rising. Meanwhile, Madrid hopes the thieves don't ask for seats in the grandstand.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (24 replies).
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