The world's eyes have been fixed on the Middle East of late. Some people have been feeling national guilt over their governments sending arms and crowd-control devices (and by that I mean supplies of tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons) to the various nations trying to stamp out the fires of revolution. Others have been feeling hopeful that the fire will spread to their country and bring much-needed regime change (yes, I'm in this group, although I'm not rushing out to organise a protest for fear of being killed or imprisoned for treason, which carried the death penalty in Zimbabwe). Still others have been feeling dismay that people could be so inconsiderate as to disrupt sporting events over a desire for freedom and democracy.
Bernie Ecclestone is among those wishing that the unrest would "blow away" and let the games carry on.
It's when things like his comments yesterday hit the press that I feel ashamed to be a Formula 1 supporter. Here is a country ousting a government that has out-stayed its welcome (in my opinion, spending longer than eight years in office is over-staying) and oppressed a major people group and are being violently abused. But what is he worried about? The security of personnel and fans? Probably not - Bahrain is on the shipment route to the race in Australia, so all the teams who have already put their equipment on the ship will lose money. In addition, he'll lose the revenue generated by ticket sales and advertising at the circuit and suchlike.
It seems he's alone in this. The Australian, British, Canadian and US governments have all issued warnings against people travelling to Bahrain. Teams have been making quiet inquiries as to whether there are circuits available during that time-period to avoid it becoming a blood bath. Even fans have been voicing their opinions to various teams and Formula 1 journalists, expressing displeasure at the possibility of the race going ahead.
For me, it's not a security issue. In Egypt during the revolution, the safest place for foreigners, according to a number of Al Jazeera and CNN journalists, was in Tahrir Square. The protesters have nothing against foreigners. It's an issue of respect. By holding the race in Bahrain, Mr. Ecclestone will be sending a message to the world that the injustice in Bahrain doesn't matter, that sport, and its associated profits, are more important than democracy, freedom and justice. As much as I love the sport, nothing is more important than democracy (as flawed of a political system as it is), freedom and justice.
Bernie Ecclestone is among those wishing that the unrest would "blow away" and let the games carry on.
It's when things like his comments yesterday hit the press that I feel ashamed to be a Formula 1 supporter. Here is a country ousting a government that has out-stayed its welcome (in my opinion, spending longer than eight years in office is over-staying) and oppressed a major people group and are being violently abused. But what is he worried about? The security of personnel and fans? Probably not - Bahrain is on the shipment route to the race in Australia, so all the teams who have already put their equipment on the ship will lose money. In addition, he'll lose the revenue generated by ticket sales and advertising at the circuit and suchlike.
It seems he's alone in this. The Australian, British, Canadian and US governments have all issued warnings against people travelling to Bahrain. Teams have been making quiet inquiries as to whether there are circuits available during that time-period to avoid it becoming a blood bath. Even fans have been voicing their opinions to various teams and Formula 1 journalists, expressing displeasure at the possibility of the race going ahead.
For me, it's not a security issue. In Egypt during the revolution, the safest place for foreigners, according to a number of Al Jazeera and CNN journalists, was in Tahrir Square. The protesters have nothing against foreigners. It's an issue of respect. By holding the race in Bahrain, Mr. Ecclestone will be sending a message to the world that the injustice in Bahrain doesn't matter, that sport, and its associated profits, are more important than democracy, freedom and justice. As much as I love the sport, nothing is more important than democracy (as flawed of a political system as it is), freedom and justice.
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