Bahrain Grand Prix organisers have reportedly suspended ticket sales for its Formula One race, which is due to take place on March 22.
Organisers told Reuters they are assessing how many spectators will be allowed to attend in the face of the coronavirus outbreak.
As of Friday, there had been a total of 56 coronavirus cases in Bahrain, including one new case in the past 24 hours, as global numbers surpassed 100,000.
Last month, Bahrain cancelled all flights from Dubai for a 48-hour period after it identified a number of Covid-19 infected individuals who had travelled to Bahrain from Iran via the UAE.
A spokesman for the Bahrain International Circuit said that, depending on the outcome, refunds could be offered or more tickets put on sale.
“The best way to describe it is we paused ticket sales,” he said in comments published by Reuters. “So you now at the moment cannot buy a ticket for the race.”
He would not comment on the possibility that the race at Sakhir could be held without spectators.
Last week, Formula 1 CEO Chase Carey said he expected the Bahrain race to go ahead despite the coronavirus outbreak.
The Grand Prix reported a record three-day crowd of 97,000 in 2019, and is the Gulf kingdom’s biggest global sporting event.
Follow us on
