Constantine Phaulkon
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2011
Here's a question for racers, amateur and pro alike: if this was a motorcycle race, would you as a racer participate if a significant portion of the population was against the race (in Bahrain for Formula 1 Grand Prix some say it's at least 20% against, possibly higher)?
Hypothetical One: no money was at stake, it was purely a amateur affair.
Hypothetical Two: a rich patron said that you must race or lose money, and let's say it's a significant sum of money. And you have expenses and need the money.
Money talks eh? ;-)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17803310
The Bahraini government, headed by the al-Khalifa dynasty, had been keen for this year's race to go ahead this year to prove it has put the 14-month uprising against Sunni minority rule behind them.
BBC correspondent Caroline Hawley says that staging the event has had the opposite effect, highlighting the tiny Gulf state's political problems.
Race 'lends legitimacy'
On Friday, Bahrain's Crown Prince, Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa said cancelling the Grand Prix "just empowers extremists", and insisted that holding the race would "build bridges across communities".
Hypothetical One: no money was at stake, it was purely a amateur affair.
Hypothetical Two: a rich patron said that you must race or lose money, and let's say it's a significant sum of money. And you have expenses and need the money.
Money talks eh? ;-)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17803310
The Bahraini government, headed by the al-Khalifa dynasty, had been keen for this year's race to go ahead this year to prove it has put the 14-month uprising against Sunni minority rule behind them.
BBC correspondent Caroline Hawley says that staging the event has had the opposite effect, highlighting the tiny Gulf state's political problems.
Race 'lends legitimacy'
On Friday, Bahrain's Crown Prince, Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa said cancelling the Grand Prix "just empowers extremists", and insisted that holding the race would "build bridges across communities".