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| Dom |
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Dom
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Joined: 06 Sep 2004
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 Posted: 13:38 - 04 Jan 2008  Post subject: The Dakar - Cancelled |
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| Quote: | 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. |
I can't believe it.  For those who are not aware, the riders and drivers have been going through scrutineering for the past couple of days and the race was due to start tomorrow. In the past few weeks there were some concerns but the Mauritanian govmt had supposedly given various guarantees and smoothed things over, so I can only assume things have changes in the past 24 hours.
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| veeeffarr |
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veeeffarr
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| Dom |
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Dom
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Posted: 13:57 - 04 Jan 2008  Post subject: |
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It's absolutely gutting, I can't imagine what all of the drivers and riders are feeling right now. Some will have spent their life savings on getting to Portugal.
And what kind of precedent does this set? Why would terrorists not threaten the race again next year after a result like this?
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| Reppyboyo |
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Reppyboyo
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Posted: 14:53 - 04 Jan 2008  Post subject: |
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How depressing. |
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| Skudd |
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Skudd
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| Mac_Black |
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Mac_Black
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| Posted: 21:46 - 04 Jan 2008 Post subject: |
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This is ridiculous, by canceling they have bowed down to tha terroists' threats, and terror has one tha day here... Whatever happened to a thing called security? They should set up gates, have armed watchposts and an armed convoy of police/military vehicles to safeguard tha racers  . I don't actually know much about Dakar but this just takes tha biscuit . |
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| bazza |
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bazza
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| phil2alp |
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phil2alp
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| Posted: 18:49 - 06 Jan 2008 Post subject: |
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Some would say it sounds like exactly what the French do in the face of a threat.  
On a serious note, as who cares about the French , how depressing for the competitors to be told this late in the day that the race had been cancelled after up to a years preparation.
Could they not have postponed it to give more time for further investigation as to the likelihood of an attack ? Surely, if they could, competitors would rather wait a while for the OK rather than have the race cancelled altogether. |
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| Dom |
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Dom
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| Posted: 20:27 - 06 Jan 2008 Post subject: |
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A lot of people think they should have just done the run down to Morocco, at the very least. I'd agree. Apparently most of the amateur riders have clauses in their sponsorship contracts saying that they will only receive full payment once they take part in the start of the event, and obviously that hasn't happened, and with the money already spent it'd be an underestimation to say they're pretty much fucked. This could have been handled much much better.
A new rally raid is going to be taking part this year in June. The Trans Orientale departs from St Petersburg and runs through Kazakhstan to Beijing. Humble beginnings, but interest will no doubt be buoyed by the Dakar's cancellation. Some of the Dakar teams have already said that they will be taking part, and the route has the potential to be fantastic.
I don't want to see the Dakar end but with the organisers currently saying no more than 'There will big a big event in 2009.', and with the situation in Mauritania being plausibly the same in a year's time, it would be great to see another huge event take off.
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fenton
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MarJay
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bigwill
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fenton
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Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 18 years, 86 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
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