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Safety first. (Illustration)
Photo: AFP

Dakar Rally cancelled over security concerns

World famous annual car-motorcycle race called off for first time in 30 years after organizers receive terror threats, French Foreign Ministry urges its cancellation. Decision will not affect future Dakar races, says ASO

The 2008 Dakar Rally race has been canceled due to security concerns and a "direct threats against the race issued by terrorist groups," the Amaury Sport Organization (ASO), which sponsors the race, said Friday.

 

This is the first time in the Dakar's 30-year history that the controversial car-motorcycle Sahara Desert race has been cancelled.

 

"Following several consultations with the French government, in particular the ministry of foreign affairs, and taking into account its firm recommendations, the organizers of the Dakar have taken the decision to cancel the 2008 edition of the rally," the ASO said.

 

The race was scheduled to begin in Lisbon on Saturday, January 5th, but the murder of four French tourists in Mauritania on December 24, 2007 – which has been linked to al-Qaeda – prompted the French government to issue a travel advisory for the country. 


An indestructible symbol. Dakar Rally (Archive photo: AP) 

 

Nine of the rally's stages were due to pass through Mauritania, en route for Dakar and the scheduled finish on January 20.

 

"The ASO’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... the choice of security is not, has never been and will never be a subject of compromise at the heart of the Dakar rally," continued the ASO's statement.

 

'A total shock'

"There are thousands of people here, hundreds of drivers, crewmen and administrators and they're all is total shock," Dror Cohen, an Israeli driver scheduled to race Saturday, told Ynet.

 

"We could feel something was wrong when we got here yesterday (Thursday)... there were rumors about the race being cancelled, but we didn't take them seriously at first.

 

"When we got to the assembly area, the organizers asked us to hold off on all the preparations for the race until they hold a press conference," he added. "They just announced the race is canceled. People here just can't believe it."

 

Cohen went on to describe how the 570 driving teams were now packing up their gear and returning the equipment they were given on-site.

 

"Now there are rumors that the (French) Foreign Ministry recommendation to cancel the race is nothing more than a cover for the insurance companies; apparently they pulled out and told the organizers they won't cover the thousands of people here if they'll be entering high-risk countries," said Cohen.

 

The ASO, added the statement, is aware of the financial meaning canceling the race entails. "The Dakar is a symbol and nothing can destroy symbols," it said.

 

The cancellation of the 2008 edition of the race, it added, will not affect any of the Dakar Rally's future editions. 

 

AFP contributed to this report

 


פרסום ראשון: 01.04.08, 18:38
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