Bahrain GP situation: postponed, reinstated, cancelled

[aduka11]

I just read on one web portal that Bahrain government has forbidden any journalists in the coutry...after which FIA begged them...and they let in only few, but only if they wont move anywhere outside the track...and report only race.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

I put this question to James Allen and Joe Saward.

"What are the legal ramifications of anyone being injured as a direct result of aggression at the F1 venue?".

The answers where that CVC/FIA would jointly be held responsible. There is a possible caveat that the actual venue could be open to litigation themselves.
But, we have to think what Todt and Bernie have done to cover themselves.

The Bahrain organisers had to have given guarantees that nothing would occur. Allied to this, ciritically, the Bahraini's would have given CVC/FIA guarantees that they would cover financially any litigation that may occur.
Why else would Todt and Ecclestone expose themselves like this.

[myurr]

After reading the last couple of pages I am frankly fed up with the naive and blinkered views being expressed. It would appear that F1 shouldn't be in Bahrain for two reasons. 1) The safety of the personnel is enough in question that the safest option is to cancel the GP. 2) The 'uprising' seems to consist of a relatively small number of people intent on spreading fear and violence to further their political goals. No matter how noble their goals they are nothing but a bunch of terrorist thugs who would threaten the safety of civilians in order to make a point. Throwing petrol bombs around near cars is never an acceptable way to highlight your plight.

So in my view the best way forward is for the GP to be cancelled and stripped from Bahrain. When the protestors get absolutely zero press coverage over the next year and the Bahraini royals end up being free to crack down as they see fit and assert their authority then I hope those foolish enough to let their politics shape their views of sporting events end up remembering that they ultimately got what they wished for.

I hope I am wrong, but fear that if anyone remembers to look back in a years time at what ended up happening that those who have called for the race to be cancelled based on their political views end up hanging their heads in shame. Without the media spotlight of staging the race the Bahraini people will be in a far worse position than they currently are, and the real shame is that most on here will never see this.

[Richard]

It's tradition in Muslim countries to protest after Friday prayers. Imams act as the moral compass for the community.

It is no different in Christian countries prioir to the current secular post industrial society.

Luther's protest against the oppresive hierarchy in Rome started in church. Shakespeare tells us of murderers and tyrants seeking religiiuos absolution prior to battle or murder.

[Guisson]

MSC said something that kept my attention :

"I just want to say one thing which is I don’t want to mix the sport with politics. I’m here for the sport.”

This what people (in Bahrain) should understand althought I totally understand their angriness as a PRO-regime event is beeing organised.
Security is still the major problem , no one really don't want to see or not looking forward to see a kamikaze in the circuit or a driver/Team Member harmed .
I hope evrything goes fine for FPs and the rest of the weekend.

@richard leeds: IT BECAME a tradition , now everyone wants to protest on Friday (Friday is to muslims what Sunday is to Christians,I mean by that seeking refuge in God and asking for help).The problem is that it has always been the same case with the Fridays Protests ,at first they're pacific but in the end there is always trouble and Chaos.
Hope Everything goes fine! all that I can say :s
(Again THX mr bernie for Choosing "exotic" countries for the Future GPs.Maybe a Colombian or an Afghanistanian GP?...)

[Speedster]

MSC said something that kept my attention :

"I just want to say one thing which is I don’t want to mix the sport with politics. I’m here for the sport.”

This what people (in Bahrain) should understand althought I totally understand their angriness as a PRO-regime event is beeing organised.
Security is still the major problem , no one really don't want to see or not looking forward to see a kamikaze in the circuit or a driver/Team Member harmed .
I hope evrything goes fine for FPs and the rest of the weekend.

@richard leeds: IT BECAME a tradition , now everyone wants to protest on Friday (Friday is to muslims what Sunday is to Christians,I mean by that seeking refuge in God and asking for help).The problem is that it has always been the same case with the Fridays Protests ,at first they're pacific but in the end there is always trouble and Chaos.
Hope Everything goes fine! all that I can say :s
(Again THX mr bernie for Choosing "exotic" countries for the Future GPs.Maybe a Colombian or an Afghanistanian GP?...)

I think it's not really fair to compare Colombia with Afghanistan or Bahrain, Colombia is a democracy with some other problems.

I think normally I would agree with Schumacher, about being there for sport and not for politics. However, the protesting party have actively politicized the F1 event. As a result, you cannot really maintain the mantra "don't mix sports with politics" anymore, and for me the best solution would be to simply not go there.

[strad]

(Again THX mr bernie for Choosing "exotic" countries for the Future GPs.Maybe a Colombian or an Afghanistanian GP?...)

I couldn't agree more..Nothing good ever comes of greed.

[astracrazy]

MSC said something that kept my attention :

"I just want to say one thing which is I don’t want to mix the sport with politics. I’m here for the sport.”

Clearly its not cut and dry like that. F1 being there is adding fuel to the fire. It is given the protesters an opportunity to bring there views/trouble to a world wide audience which is coming to them. So in this case, sport it being mixed with politics like it or not.

It would be very naive for him to continue the weekend with that view (possibly unsafe too)

[dren]

I think normally I would agree with Schumacher, about being there for sport and not for politics. However, the protesting party have actively politicized the F1 event. As a result, you cannot really maintain the mantra "don't mix sports with politics" anymore, and for me the best solution would be to simply not go there.

I have to agree there. But likely Bernie has a lot of money coming CVC's way, so it's on.

[Richard]

The problem is not so much about mixing sports with politics, it's the idea of teams, fans and the rest of the F1 circus travelling along streets with regular petrol bombs, tear gas and live gunfire. Focus on safety and leave the politics out of the equation ... although of course the political situation causes the protests, and that leads to the safety problems.

The point is that the primary purpose is to avoid holding F1 races in areas with extensive public disorder, the political impact of that is secondary.

[WhiteBlue]

8.11pm BST/3.11pm ET: Agence France-Presse joins the list of news organizations barred from entering Bahrain to cover the Formula One race. The AFP report says cameramen already in the country have to put fluorescent stickers on their cameras so security forces can see them at a glance and keep track of what they're filming.

An AFP photographer, accredited by the sport's governing body, the FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile), was informed by Bahrain's information affairs authority that there has been a "delay to your visa application, so it might not be processed."

Meanwhile, cameramen already in Bahrain were required to keep fluorescent orange stickers on their cameras so that they would be easily recognisable to ensure they do not cover any off-track events, such as ongoing protests.

Sir, you need to carry this sticker on your camera so our police can determine which are the photographers they are not supposed to shoot at.

[Hail22]

First practice just under 9 hours away.

I really hope this race doesn't go ahead >.>

[strad]

Well when they limit press coverage that are making a tacit admission now aren't they.

[Hail22]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/17771864

Has Gulf Air decided what the trophies will look like?

I have an idea...metal replica of a tear gas gun, or gas mask? maybe a golden Baton for beating down your opposition

[SeijaKessen]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/17771864

Has Gulf Air decided what the trophies will look like?

I have an idea...metal replica of a tear gas gun, or gas mask? maybe a golden Baton for beating down your opposition

Wow, +50. =D>

I think unfortunately this race is going to occur. We're less than 48 hours from qualifying...I can't imagine it being stopped at this point.

A shame...really would have liked to have seen it not occur.