Dubai: The Formula One Grand Prix will still go ahead in Manama despite reports that the Bahrain leg of the race has been scrapped, a Bahraini official has told Gulf News.
Nada Ahmed Yaseen, acting assistant undersecretary for tourism of Bahrain, said: "It's not cancelled, it's only postponed. We will hear good news soon."
The Manama leg of the F1, which was scheduled to kickstart the sport's calendar, had been earlier dropped due to protests in the region with Melbourne hosting the first leg on March 27.
But Yaseen said that Bahrain was "back to normal", and that reports that the race had been scrapped altogether were premature. "I think it will happen this year, we are very optimistic about it," she added.
Yaseen was speaking to Gulf News at the Arabian Travel Market, where Bahrain's tourism authority has a substantial stand, flanked by airlines Bahrain Air and Gulf Air.
She said that despite some media reports, life in Bahrain had returned to normal. Tourists too were steadily returning, despite the industry effectively losing two months while Manama experienced street protests.
