(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - IT's clear when you speak to people that the staging of the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix has given a great fillip to the vast majority of Bahrain.
Of course, the usual band of naysayers and bleaters have done all they can to thwart the event.
No doubt they will continue to do so, but in the main most believe that the political situation here has stabilised and that the authorities are making evil attempts to bring about reforms, including those suggested by the Bassiouni commission.
There also appears to be an international recognition that the ongoing violence is mainly vandalism and has little to do with peaceful protest.
Journalistic slings and arrows continue, on occasion, to fill column inches and current affairs programmes on TV, for unbending bigotry dwells large among some scribes whose psyche remains locked into events of a year ago.
There is little doubt that in many ways, the Bahrain F1 is the most widely presented PR event in the country's calendar year, seen as it is by millions of television viewers all around the world.
So what an inducement, this year, to make it simply the biggest and the best Grand Prix and to show the world that Bahrain is back in business - not only in Formula One, but also in terms of its society, its economy and its harmony.
Now I am not one for clamouring for yet another holiday, for we all know that we have them aplenty! But then again this is a special occasion, an opportunity to showcase a dynamic, confident Bahrain.
We always marvel at the full stands at the Singapore F1, for it shows a government commitment to the event and support from Singaporeans for something that puts their country on display.
On a per capita basis, Melbourne is regarded as the sporting capital of the world because sport is so well supported and profitable. Melbourne Cup Day is always jam-packed with spectators because it is a public holiday in Victoria.
I am sure that many more people would attend the Grand Prix in Bahrain if they were able to.
They cannot because it falls on a working day and the schools and universities are sitting.
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