Today.Az » Sports » Bahrain ready for F-1
20 April 2013 [12:15] - Today.Az
Bahrain is a safe place to race and this weekend’s grand prix will go ahead as planned, Formula One’s governing body and commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone said in a joint statement on April 19.
The short press release, surprising only in being issued so late in the day, came after calls from some British politicians and others for the race to be cancelled due to human rights concerns.
The race was called off in 2011 after the crushing of an anti-government uprising in the Gulf island kingdom left at least 35 dead. There have been regular clashes between police and protesters since then.
Drivers were already out on track for first practice at the desert Sakhir circuit, after a day of routine media activities on Thursday, and organisers expect a crowd of 25,000 for Sunday’s race.
The statement said the world governing body, the International Automobile Federation (FIA), and Formula One Management (FOM) “wish to jointly confirm their belief that the Bahrain GP should go ahead this weekend”.
It added that the FIA and FOM had received security assurances from the local promoter and the authorities.
They asked all to “respect the desire of the teams, drivers and all those involved in the staging of the event to do the best job possible over the weekend.
“The FIA and FOM also strongly believe that sport can often be a force for good and that the staging of the Grand Prix in Bahrain will come some way in helping soothe some of the issues which have been raised in the media,” it added.
Ecclestone, 82, is in Bahrain for the race but FIA president Jean Todt is not attending.
/HurriyetDailynews/
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