Dakar rally cancelled

Rovi

LINKY

Here's the text:

Lisbon, Friday the 4th of January 2008

A.S.O. cancels the 2008 edition of the Dakar rally

After different exchanges with the French government - in particular the Ministry for Foreign Affairs - , and based on their firm recommendations, the organisers of the Dakar have taken the decision to cancel the 2008 edition of the rally, scheduled from the 5th to the 20th of January between Lisbon and Senegal’s capital.
Based on the current international political tension and the murder of four French tourists last 24th of December linked to a branch of Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb, but also and mainly the direct threats launched directly against the race by terrorist organisations, no other decision but the cancellation of the sporting event could be taken by A.S.O.
A.S.O.’s first responsibility is to guarantee the safety of all: that of the populations in the countries visited, of the amateur and professional competitors, of the technical assistance personnel, of the journalists, partners and rally collaborators. A.S.O. therefore reaffirms that the choice of security is not, has never been and will never be a subject of compromise at the heart of the Dakar rally.
A.S.O. condemns the terrorist menace that annihilates a year of hard work, engagement and passion for all the participants and the different actors of the world’s biggest off-road rally. Aware of the huge frustration, especially in Portugal, Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal, and beyond the general disappointment and the huge economical consequences in terms of direct and indirect repercussions for the countries visited, A.S.O. will continue to defend the major values of great sporting events and will carry on its engagement for a durable development through the Actions Dakar, started 5 years ago in sub-Saharan Africa with SOS Sahel International.
The Dakar is a symbol and nothing can destroy symbols. The cancellation of the 2008 edition does not endanger the future of the Dakar. To offer, for 2009 a new adventure to all the off-road rally passionate is a challenge that A.S.O. will take on in the months to come, faithful to its engagement and its passion for sports.

Could this be the beginning of the end for this sort of rally?
High profile events going through 3rd world hotspots are always going to attract the attention of the nutcases.

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**** thats terrible to hear.

Love watching the Dakar.

They should reroute it somewhere where the security is a bit better.

Or just include some army dune-buggies with a machine gunner in the race!

Rovi

Here's Reuters take on it:

Dakar rally cancelled for security reasons

Fri Jan 4, 2008 12:41pm GMT

By Henrique Almeida

LISBON (Reuters) - The Dakar Rally was cancelled on Friday due to security concerns in Mauritania where four French tourists were killed last month, organisers said.
France-based Amaury Sport Organisation, in charge of the 6,000km rally, said in a statement they had been advised by the French government to cancel the race which was due to begin on Saturday from Lisbon.
They said direct threats had also been made against the event by "terrorist organisations".
The race, originally known as Paris-Dakar, has been held uninterrupted since 1979 although stages have been cancelled in the past for safety reasons.
"The organisers of the Dakar have taken the decision to cancel the 2008 edition of the rally scheduled from the 5th to the 20th of January between Lisbon and Senegal's capital," Amaury Sport said.
"Based on the current international political tension and the murder of four French tourists ... but also mainly the direct threats launched directly against the race by terrorist organisations, no other decision but the cancellation of the sporting event could be taken."
France warned the Dakar organisers on Thursday against holding stages in Mauritania because it said "the terrorist risk" cannot be ruled out.
Three attackers, who authorities suspect were linked to al Qaeda, gunned down four French tourists and injured a fifth as they enjoyed a Christmas Eve picnic by the roadside in the south of the country, near the border with Senegal.
Gunmen killed three soldiers three days later in the remote and sparsely populated north of the country, bordering Algeria and Morocco's breakaway territory of Western Sahara.
SERIOUS BLOW
A spokesman for Mauritania's National Tourism Office, Hamady Samb Ba, played down France's concerns however.
"It is a surprise," he said, before the race was cancelled."
"It would deal a serious blow to the image of the country. Their concerns are unfounded."
The rally, one of the toughest and most dangerous challenges in motorsport, had been due to arrive in Mauritania on January 11 with eight stages in that country until January 19.
Organisers cancelled two stages in Mali last year after French security services said participants risked being kidnapped or ambushed by Algerian rebels.
Some 570 teams had registered for the 30th edition of the event with Mitsubishi seeking their eighth successive win in the car category.
Competitors included France's former downhill skiers Luc Alphand and Carolle Montillet, Olympic and world boxing champion Brahim Asloum and former Formula One drivers Tiago Monteiro of Portugal and Japan's Ukyo Katayama.

(Additional reporting by Ibrahima Sylla in Nouakchott, Editing by Alan Baldwin)

T-Maxx

Competitors in the Dakar live for the event. A real shame indeed.:mad:

Rovi

Interesting development, but it wouldn't exactly be the 'Dakar' rally any more-
LINK

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South America to host Dakar?
08/01/2008 16:57 - (SA)Rio De Janeiro -
The Amazon rain forest and the Andes mountains could replace the African desert as South America is vying to stage the Dakar Rally.
Argentina, Brazil and Chile are looking into the possibility of hosting the race later this year and there are also talks about a race through several South American countries and climate zones.
The 30th edition of the Dakar was called off on the eve of Saturday's start in Lisbon because of a terror threat in Mauritania, where most of the stages of the famed race were scheduled to take place before the traditional finish in the Senegalese capital of Dakar.
There is alleged interest from Russia, China and Australia - and the South American options as well to stage the race next December.
"South America is not only the best but the only option," insisted Carlo de Gavardo of Chile on the website of the El Comercio daily.
De Gavardo is a former motorcycle rally World Cup winner and his father Giorgio is the Latin American representative in the Dakar Rally organising team.
According to de Gavardo, a Dakar in South America could run through Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Bolivia and Peru.
Such a race could cross the Andes Range, run through the Argentinian pampas, the Atacama Desert in Chile, pass Lake Titicaca in Peru and the Machu Picho Inka ruins in Bolivia and as well as the Amazon rain forest in Brazil.
But there are also one-country bids.
"There are three or four options but Argentina is the favourite," David Ely, organiser of the Argentina rally which is part of the world championship, said.
Ely said he will hold talks with the French race organisers on Wednesday and expects a final decision by Tuesday of next week.
However, Brazil and Chile are also interested, with Santiago de Chile Tourist Board chief Oscar Santelices saying that his country offers security, stability, the necessary infrastructure and geographical variety.
In addition, private investors and the state are both working on the issue and Santelices said that support has been requested from sports authorities and the interior ministry. The backing by Head of State Michelle Bachelet is also expected.

Some more reaction-
Cancelled Dakar costs millions
Dakar cancellation a disaster
Dakar: Cancellation criticised

T-Maxx

At least now we get to see the previous years' highlights on TV.:D

Small consolation though ...:(