2008 Dakar Rally canceled
From Autoweek:
Quote:
The organizer of the annual Dakar Rally has canceled this year's event--planned to start on Saturday and run to Jan. 20--due to fears regarding safety after terrorist actions and threats against the rally.
Three men believed to be linked to Al Qaeda killed four French tourists in Mauritania in Africa on Dec. 24. The rally was set to spend eight days in Mauritania, and organizer ASO feared it would be unable to guarantee the safety of participants and others involved in the nearly 6000-mile trek.
The cancellation is the first in the rally's 30 years. The ASO says future Dakar events are not at risk.
"Based on the current international political tension and the murder of four French tourists [on] Dec. 24 linked to a branch of Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb, but also and mainly the direct threats launched directly against the race by terrorist organizations," the ASO said in a statement. "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 five 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 [participants] is a challenge that A.S.O. will take on in the months to come, faithful to its engagement and its passion for sports."
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