Opera House CEO slams govt plans Sydney

– A government push to use the Sydney Opera House’s sails to advertise a horse racing event over the wishes of the building’s management has sparked uproar over the commercialisation of an iconic landmark.

The $10 million Everest race, which boasts the world’s biggest turf race prize, is due to take place in Sydney next week and organisers are pushing to promote it on the white wings of the Opera House.

The state government stepped in on Friday to force the management to allow the race’s trophy, colours and numbers to be projected onto the white wings of the structure early next week.

The wings have been lit up previously to promote other major sporting events, but Opera House CEO Louise Herron said she did not want the building to be used as an advertising “billboard”. –