Olympic Design "Contest" Announced...
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...the word contest is probably an unfortunate choice in that it cheapens things a bit, but I'll let you decide after reading the announcement. This release is essentially as was reported in Golf World recently, but without the "contest" word mentioned and sadly, it appears there will be no period for the public to look at the finalist entries.
For Immediate Release...
Rio 2016™ to launch golf course design contest
The Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Rio 2016 ™ announces the launch of an international contest to select a golf course design for the Rio 2016™ Olympic venue. The call for proposals is available from the Rio 2016™ website, www.rio2016.com or by request through the email processos.seletivos@rio2016.com .
To take part in the contest , companies will be required to evidence golf course design experience, compliance with RIO2016™ international rules and to furnish proof of the qualifications necessary to develop the project.
In other words, this is not the Lido Contest!
Consortiums of firms will be accepted. If the awarded participant is an individual international firm, it will be required to have an office legally established in Rio de Janeiro.
That just eliminated a few more.
Participants will be asked to design a project that: meets International Golf Federation (IGF) specifications; is capable of becoming an international centre of excellence for the sport of golf for professional and community use as a legacy to Rio’s population; respects the environmental law in force and the local ecosystem; is capable of promoting Rio internationally and constitutes an important tool for youth transformation through sport. The project must also plan for all the stages of use of the golf course: before Rio 2016™ Games with the test events, at Games time and after the Games as a legacy.
Test events? With this timing, one event would be a miracle, but the rest sounds almost like a dream scenario: the environment and the legacy of course will mean as much as the two weeks it is used for the Olympics.
After describing the site, the release gets into the process...
Canddates' proposals will be examined by a jury formed by representatives of the International Golf Federation (IGF), Rio 2016™, Rio City Hall and the Rio2016 Golf Advisory Committee (GAC) .
The successful candidate will be awarded the contract to develop the design of the course at a fixed price of USD300,000.
$300,000? That's uh, not much!
But more interestingly, a set fee neutralizes the Nicklaus-Sorenstam "Freemium" concept.
Contest Phases
The result of each phase of the contest will be sent to participants by e-mail and disclosed by Rio 2016 website( www.rio2016.com ). During the selection process, all requests for clarification should be sent to the e-mail processoseletivos@rio2016.com.
Phase I –
October 14- Announcement of the contest and beginning of the term for submission of the required documentation.
October 28 – Deadline for submission of documentation.
That was quick!
But as I reported, this process has been ongoing and so while it may appear rushed, it really isn't.
November 8 – announcement of the firms selected to take part in Phase ll, and forwarding of the invitation for the workshop where the golf course project briefing will be presented.
Phase II –
November 17/18 – Workshop to present project briefing to participants.
Won't that be a fun gathering of...egomaniacs.
Phase III –
From November 19 to December 16 – term set for participants to prepare their proposals.
December 16 – deadline for proposal submission.
December 17 to 23 – the jury will interview the participating firms and carry out a final review of proposals.
December 23 – announcement of the successful candidate.
Whoa there! Six days...now that's a quick turnaround. But it's going to be a Merry Christmas for someone!
This tight turnaround appears to have eliminated the opportunity for the Phase II finalists to present their proposals publicly, something that would have put this "contest" on par with competitions in other architectural fields. Certainly that came with risks too, but I do think it would have been an interesting educational exercise.
