More than twenty women have denounced harassing behavior at the Dutch Grand Prixthe fifteenth round of the Formula 1 World Championship, held last weekend at the Dutch circuit of Zandvoort.
At least 25 women have reported their cases since last Friday to Formula 1 Women, a club for female fans of this sport.
Victims were photographed without consent, spoken to or touched on the buttocks, chest and stomachas reported by the founder of the fan club, Svenja Tillemans, on public television NOS.
“I’ve been waiting two years, but after this weekend’s experience, I don’t think I want to go back to Formula 1. I’ve never felt so dirty, ashamed and humiliated at an event, so I’m not sure”, said Naomi, 21, who attended the race with her father, but suffered episodes of verbal harassment every time her father left her.
As reported in an email, several men referred to some band-aids she had on her knees because she was suffering from swelling, and, among the examples she pointed to, one man yelled at her that “he had a good time on his knees at night”, while another added: “What a busy night you had!”.
Another victim, Sara, 43, was videotaped in the stand by several men when she danced, was cut off by a group of youths when she wanted to go to the bathroom and was even grabbed by another man. “Of course I want to again, but I must be with a man. As a single woman, I find it scary“added this Formula 1 fan, who attended the event accompanied by his wife.
Police have yet to receive any official complaints of sexually abusive behavior at Zandvoort, and the Dutch Grand Prix told NOS it was aware of one case of harassment and four other complaints.
The organization of the event in the Netherlands has deployed additional vigilantes, security guards and surveillance camerasand an emergency number where visitors can send messages during the event has been set up to create a safer environment for visitors.
This is not the first time that visitors to the grand prix have had to deal with this kind of behavior. Last July there were also complaints of machismo and racismespecially by Dutch fans, during the Formula 1 races in Austria, according to NOS.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
