Organizers of the Bahrain Grand Prix Formula One race decided not to cancel the event this year in light of the burgeoning Covid-19 pandemic, but opted instead to proceed without the thousands of spectators that would normally attend to watch.
In a statement about the decision, officials explained, “Given the continued spread of Covid-19 globally, convening a major sporting event, which is open to the public and allows thousands of international travelers and local fans to interact in close proximity would not be the right thing to do at the present time.”
The annual event in Bahrain is normally the second race on Formula One’s Grand Prix calendar after the Australian Grand Prix.