Dakar Cancelled

[MacP]

I've been seeing a few posts on HU on this subject - some sort of announcement at 13:00 - any truth in this. Hate to start a rumour of this sort? Sorry if this has been posted and shot down in flames previously...

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/040120...cellation.html

[atgreg]

looks like this years Dakar is cancelled due to the trouble in mauratania, see , http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=298728

[Mabels Old Man]

See here

[Xander]

how sad.. maybe for the best.. it is a dangerous enough sport with out the threat of terrorism added to it... one thing to die competing a totally different being shot ...

[Mabels Old Man]

I've merged the three threads to try and keep it tidy

[Wee Jack]

This is bad news indeed !!

How are we going to get through January now ? the Dakar was normally the only bright spot in an otherwise dreary month.

[Xander]

from the Dakar official site

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 28th 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.

[Raven]

Sad, sad news

[stageonesimmo]

It really grips me to see us giving in to these scum, but it's a difficult event to police effectively, well without spending the equivalent of the national debt of a few African countries anyway. I've spent my entire adult life working against these folk and its a sad day for me to see one of my favourite sporting occaisions cancelled as a result of thier actions/threats, but its probably the best desicsion, however mad it makes me..........

Sad day.

[Paul-S]

My thoughts also go out to Rainman and the others who have travelled out there to see it, the privateers that have put a lot financially into getting there, but specifically Rainman (one of our's) as he is supposed to be travelling through Mauritania on the route to Timbuktu with the Nick Sanders tour.

There are people on this that have saved up and some have given up jobs to be able to go on this.

But, at the end of the day financial hardship is nothing compared to the hightened risk of death.