HANOI, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's capital Hanoi is planning to bring the world-famous Formula One (F1) car race to the city, Vietnam News Agency on Friday quoted the Vietnamese Government Office's leader as saying.
Government Office Chairman Mai Tien Dung said the Law on Sports allows Vietnam to host international sports events, including the F1 car race.
Hanoi initially proposed the government to organize the race around its iconic Sword Lake and along adjacent streets in the downtown, but the idea was rejected after thorough reviews by the municipal authorities and the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The capital city then wanted to host the F1 race in the My Dinh sports complex in Nam Tu Liem district to take advantage of the existing infrastructure there, Dung stated.
"This is very new to Vietnam but the authorities all support it. A green light has been given to Hanoi to approach the race organizers," he said.
The Vietnamese prime minister, however, asked Hanoi to not to spend state money, but funds mobilized from businesses on hosting the race, the chairman said.
F1 is the highest class of single-seater auto racing sanctioned by the International Automobile Federation. A F1 season consists of a series of races, which are held worldwide on purpose-built circuits and public roads.
