Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has approved a document that commits the sport to recognising “human rights at all of its 20 venues around the world”, according to a report by the Times newspaper.
Some years after the violent civil uprising in the island Kingdom, the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix remains a controversial stop on the annual F1 calendar.
There is still unrest in the Kingdom, with reports that 21 activists were arrested this week by government forces who fired tear gas on the eve of F1 practice.
Back in 2012, Ecclestone dismissed the Bahrain controversy by saying it had “nothing to do with Formula 1”.
The Times, however, reports that F1 supremo Ecclestone is changing tack for 2015.
The Formula One Group confirmed this week that the sport is now “committed to respecting internationally recognised human rights in its operations globally”.
“The new guidelines also mean that the sport will operate a policy of ‘due diligence’ before signing up new hosts,” the Times added.
