There’s no peace for the residents of Spain’s capital: protests, five months of construction each year, and even the risk of forced evacuations.
In Madrid, sports and citizens are literally in chaos. After canceling yesterday the final stage of the Vuelta due to pro-Pal protests, now the Madrid Grand Prix is in the spotlight, having so far brought few smiles and many complaints.
Bureaucracy is difficult, construction is delayed, the track design has been heavily criticized by fans, and residents are literally revolting. Just yesterday, in the heart of the Spanish capital, a promotional event was overrun by hundreds of protesters shouting, “Our cities are not a racetrack.”
The protests target all the disruptions the GP will cause: noise exceeding legal limits, the removal of over 700 trees, and the occupation of green areas, including an ancient livestock path.
VIDEO – Madrid: Residents Rise Up Against the Grand Prix!
Finally, residents warn that it will be “a nightmare for those living in the neighborhood”: each year, five months of construction are needed to prepare the GP, meaning that for a decade the area will face major traffic and mobility issues, with some residents potentially forced to evacuate on race days.
Photo: Madring
