Bahrain "tightened security" on Thursday, as the three-day F1 Grand Prix was about to get under way, with the country's Shiite opposition "planning protests to seize world attention for pro-reform demands." On Thursday, police "were deployed along a main road linking Manama to the Sakhir F1 circuit in the south, as more checkpoints were set up on roads leading to Shiite villages." Public security chief General Tariq Hasan said on Tuesday the authorities have taken "all measures and plans" to secure the Formula One event (AFP, 4/3). ... V8 Supercars "are on a collision course" with the Australian Football League with next year's Bathurst 1000 and the AFL grand final poised to be held on the same weekend. The AFL will start late next year due to the cricket world cup, which will be using venues such as the Melbourne Cricket Ground. It means the '15 grand final could be played on Oct. 10, "the same weekend V8 Supercars has pencilled in for its marquee 1000km classic at Mount Panorama" (AAP, 4/3). ... The seventh edition of the Indian Premier League will return to India on May 2 with a clash between past winners Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders in Ranchi. The UAE was awarded the hosting rights of the first 20 matches of the IPL. Organizers "released the fixture for the remainder of the 40 games," including the final, with all the matches being held in India (PTI, 4/3). ... Papua, Indonesia has been named the host of the 2020 National Games. The decision "was taken during the National Sports Committee’s (KONI) annual meeting early March," and will make Papua only the second province in eastern Indonesia to host the Games after South Sulawesi held the '57 edition. Papua "ran against two other strong candidates, Bali and Aceh, in its bid" (JAKARTA GLOBE, 4/3).
