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From: Architexturez-IN <admin-in@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
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Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2007 01:16:50 +0530
New Delhi, Sep 17 (PTI) The Indian Olympic Association has moved one
step forward in bringing the Formula One race to the country by bagging
two draft contracts from the International Automobile Federation (FIA).
IOA President Suresh Kalmadi today announced that he had got the race
promotion contract and the circuit right agreement besides a breather to
finalise the formalities over the earlier deadline of September 30.
"I recently met FIA chief Bernie Ecclestone in London and he handed me
over the two draft contracts. He said chief architect of the Formula One
circuit Hermann Tilke, who recently made a survey of sites in India, has
given a good report," Kalmadi said at a press conference here today.
Kalmadi said FIA had shortlisted two sites in the national capital
region and had asked the IOA to finalise one of those as the race venue.
"They have selected two sites -- Greater Noida and Sohna (near Gurgaon)
-- and left the final choice to IOA," Kalmadi said.
The total area identified in Sohna is somewhere between 1200 and 1500
acres, while it is around 1600 acres in Greater Noida, he said.
The IOA chief said the September 30 deadline for completing all
formalities has been extended, but parried questions about the new cut
off date.
"The September deadline has been extended. Now we have good enough
time," he said. PTI