Apr 11, 2012 10:16:56 AM
- easy_rider911
- Rennteam VIP
- Loc: London , United Kingdom
- Posts: 22190, Gallery
- Registered on: Nov 8, 2004
2012 Bahrain F1 Grand Prix at Sakhir
What a mess. When we are looking forward to the Chinese Grand Prix this weekend, the media focus is all on the race in Bahrain the following weekend, for obvious reasons.
In an ideal world, politics and sport would not be mixed together.
But we don't live in an ideal world. We live in a world with 24/7 news channels showing riots and demonstrations within moments of trouble breaking out on the streets.
While the large Shia majority in Bahrain is fighting for equal rights and democracy against a Sunni ruling family, the TV images will look very bad of people having fun racing and spraying bottles of ward (a non-alcoholic alternative to champagne) on the podium while the ordinary people are protesting, burning tyres and throwing stones at riot police.
And then there is safety. Bahrain is a tiny island state. How will the hundreds of F1 related people (team staff etc) be ferried around the place with demonstrations going on?
The F1 race is really because of the passion of a few members of the ruling royal family and, as I've said previously, IMO the ruling family doesn't care about democracy. They care about hosting a race, advertising their country for tourism and the lavish VIP parties they will have. What little they have done re democracy is purely a fig leaf designed to make it look like they are doing something, enough to ensure the race is not jeopardised.
Common sense should prevail IMO. Bahrain should be removed from the calendar indefinitely until they have found a permanent solution. Indeed, IMO an indefinite cancellation is the best way to make the ruling royal family actually do something meaningful.
http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2012/04/bahraini-opposition-leader-predicts-violence-for-gp-weekend/
http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/7664478/Bahrain-boss-slams-armchair-observers-
http://www.planetf1.com/news/3213/7664727/FOTA-Passes-The-Bahrain-Buck-To-FIA
http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2012/04/lotus-unhappy-after-confidential-quotes-used-by-bahrain-chiefs/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/17676140
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