The Chinese Grand Prix is likely to be run in Shanghai beyond 2010 as the city continues its drive to become one of the world's great sporting hubs, according to the organizers of the Formula One race.

Reported comments by the deputy director of the Shanghai sports bureau, Qiu Weichang, that the city might give up its right to a five-year extension of the Grand Prix after 2010 were lost in translation, said Leon Sun of organizers Juss Events.

"I've spoken to Mr Qiu, and he never said the Grand Prix was going to leave China," the general manager of event management at Juss Events told Reuters in a telephone interview.

"I think it's probably some misunderstanding in translation. I would say it's likely it will stay after 2010. Formula One has only been here for five years. To build a spectator base is not easy it's a long-term operation.

"We think Formula One is a very good product, a very good event for Shanghai City, so at least from our company's point of view we want to continue promoting and building the event.

"Research shows there are more and more race fans in China, so I don't think we will say no to the Formula One Grand Prix."

Formula One rights holder Bernie Ecclestone said at October's Grand Prix that he thought the race had a secure long-term future.

Sun, who took over running the grand prix this year, said there would be more "internal discussions" before negotiations over extending the contract beyond 2010 began.

The home of the Grand Prix is the stunning US$350 million circuit on the outskirts of Shanghai, which can seat 200,000 fans but has rarely come anywhere close to accommodating that number.

Sun said about 80,000 spectators turned up on race day last month, conceding that at least some of them received their tickets as a result of a "trade-off with business partners."

(Agencies via Shanghai Daily November 25, 2008)