Protests Against Horse Race Promotion at Sydney Opera House

Sydney: Thousands of people gathered at the iconic Sydney Opera House to protest against the use of building for a controversial horse racing advertisement, the media reported on Wednesday. The protesters used mobile phones and strong flashlights onto the emblematic Unesco World Heritage building on Tuesday night to disrupt a six-minute light show promoting the country’s richest horse race.

They chanted “sails are not for sale”, referring to the shape of the building which is similar to the sails of a ship, the Australian media reported. The controversial advertising for the race, which boasts 13 million Australian dollars ($9.25 million) in prize money, has seen groups ranging from politicians to media personalities debating whether a sport centering on gambling should be promoted on the heritage-listed venue.

Up to 3,000 people crowded the city’s area, while an online petition to the New South Wales (NSW) state government against using the structure as a “promotional billboard” garnered more than 200,000 signatures, reported the Nine News channel. (IANS)