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ParkWord April 2011 So far reaching are the arms of the amusement


industry that no matter what happens anywhere in the world, there is often a ride or attraction of some kind close by. Some of the first TV pictures I saw after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan were of a typical Tokyo cityscape punctuated by a Ferris wheel.


While parks and attractions are few and far between in the north east of the country where the quake hit hardest, the capital city boasts more than its fair share. One of the most high profile of course is the Tokyo Disneyland Resort. In the immediate aftermath of the huge quake on March 11, officials offered shelter to stranded guests and, at the time of writing, the resort was still closed. A day out at a theme park no longer seems such an enticing prospect. The same applies in Bahrain where, inspired by events in Egypt and Tunisia, protestors are attempting to overthrow the prime minister of more than 40 years. The sectarian violence that is plaguing the capital of Manama has had a direct impact on two local attractions, Wahooo! Waterpark and Magic Planet FEC at the Bahrain City Centre shopping mall. Located just off the Pearl Roundabout that has been the focal point for the protests, the waterpark closed its doors in mid-March as the Saudi and UAE armies sent in troops to secure local assets. Wahooo! was due to be the subject of a profile in this month's Park World. The feature is all ready to go, except for a few photos. Understandably e-mailing a bunch of JPEGs to a red- haired reporter in the north of England isn't top of staff's “to do” list and we will bring you the article just as soon as is possible. “The focus for the people of Bahrain is on noting else but getting some sort of democratic government,” the waterpark's general manager Damien Latham told me last month. “We are all on tenterhooks to see if we are going to have to evacuate.”


While events must inevitably take their toll, it's good to know that once things return to some kind of normality, attractions such as those mentioned will be there to put a smile back on the face of the people of Japan and Bahrain, just as they do for citizens around the world.


Owen Ralph - Editor


Editor Owen Ralph (+44 161 438 2934) parkworld@btopenworld.com


North American Editor Paul Ruben (+1 585 381 1012) parkw@rochester.rr.com


Contributors this issue Tim Hornberger, Ron Gustafson, Mark Locker


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