This is an update to:
Protesters’ Demands Put Major Motorsport Event in Question
Currently, the Middle East region of the world is experiencing a massive change and in this current situation, there is no place for a massive worldwide sporting event.
It seems that Formula One is in agreement with this assessment, as the demonstrations in Bahrain have caused a cancellation of the Bahrain Grand Prix, the opening race of the 2011 Formula One season.
Following successful demonstrations and a regime change in both Egypt and Tunisia, protestors have taken to the streets in Bahrain in an effort to overthrow the current government which they feel has been corrupt in its nature. While most of these events have nothing to do with racing, the one is Bahrain does, as it hosts the opening race in the F1 season. Torque News
The mass protests planned for Tuesday in support of calls for political reforms and other concessions coincide with planned return of Hassan Mushaimaa, who is the leader of Bahrain’s largest opposition party—the Haq Movement.
Mushaimaa, who has been living abroad, had previously been detained by the government for campaigning for more democratic rights in the island monarchy.
Meanwhile, fallout from last week’s violent protests continues.
A 20-year-old protester in Bahrain, who was shot in the head on Friday, has died, hospital sources said Monday. Ridha Mohammed was advancing toward the Pearl Roundabout with other demonstrators when security forces opened fire.
Prior to Mohammed’s death, about 10 protesters were thought to have died in five days of protests, but opposition activists say dozens more are unaccounted for.
Bahrain canceled its participation in a Grand Prix auto race that had been scheduled to begin March 11. Testing for the race had been scheduled to start March 3, and protest organizers had threatened to disrupt the event. CNN International
Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, the son of the king, on Monday told the Formula One promoter Bernie Ecclestone by telephone that Bahrain was obliged to cancel the race date.
“At the present time, the country’s entire attention is focused on building a new national dialogue for Bahrain,” Prince Salman said in a statement released by the Bahrain International Circuit. “We felt it was important for the country to focus on immediate issues of national interest and leave the hosting of Bahrain’s Formula One race to a later date.”
Although there has been speculation in recent days that the race would be moved later in the year, the statement said no decision had been made.
“It is sad that Bahrain has had to withdraw from the race,” Ecclestone said. “We wish the whole nation well as they begin to heal their country.”
“We look forward to being back in Bahrain soon,” he added.
Bahrain has held the race since 2004 at a purpose-built circuit about 50 kilometers, or 30 miles, from the capital city. But the majority of the teams, media and foreign spectators stay in hotels in the center of the city, many of them near Pearl Square, which has been the central meeting point of the demonstrations.
The Formula One teams had also planned to hold a winter testing session in Bahrain next week. Instead, they will again test at the Montmelo circuit near Barcelona, where the Spanish Grand Prix will take place May 22. New York Times
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