There is public outcry Australia controversial plans to use the Sydney Opera House as a "billboard" to advertise a horse race. Tens thousands of Australians have signed a petition to block the plans to project an advertisement the Everest Cup onto the iconic white sails the Opera House. The race is the richest horse race the world. The decision to use the Opera House as a platform the ad even has the backing Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison. He said: "It's not like they're painting it there. I mean, it's lights flashing up there for a brief moment of time....I don't understand why we tie ourselves up knots about these things."
The former chief executive the Opera House described the decision to promote the race the world-famous landmark as "crass, inappropriate and offensive". He said: "I find it extraordinary that the state politicians both sides have somehow decided that this is the interests Sydney, New South Wales or Australia to corrupt the way the Opera House works, to corrupt the art integrity the building." The son of Peter Hall, the architect who helped complete the Opera House, said: "My father would have been sickened it....He would not have condoned advertising the building any way. Lucky he's not around to see the desecration our beautiful, iconic masterpiece."
