Sports Betting Articles
Dakar 2009 Will Take Place in South-America
By Emeli Dean
After the renowned Dakar Race in North-Africa had to be cancelled for the first time this year, the 2009 rally will take place in South-America. The reason for the cancellation are the Islamic terror threats. The French Foreign Ministry warned against assaults in Mauretania where four tourists were shot in December 2007. Just three days later three soldiers were killed in the north of Mauretania. At this year’s rally eight of the fifteen planned stages were supposed to lead through Mauretania. “After consulting the French regimen, especially the Foreign Ministry, the organizers decided to cancel the rally 2009 which was supposed to take part between the 5th and 20th January from Lisbon to the Senegalese capital Dakar,” a public announcement from the Amaury Sport Organization reported.
The Amaury Sport Organization (ASO) is a French group which was founded in 1992. It is especially known for its organization of the cycling race Tour de France, the marathon in Paris and the Rally Dakar. This rally was first held at the end of 1978. Back then the route led always from Paris to Dakar. Since about 1984 the routes vary from year to year, but always led through the deserts of Africa.
At the rally there are four different categories: car racing, motor cycle racing, truck racing and quad racing. The rally is one of the best known and also one of the hardest sports events worldwide. Again and again there are people who get lost in the desert and cannot be located right away since the stages are up to 800km long. Especially for private participants without a mechanic team the rally is very exhausting as they have to do everything themselves. Due to the appointed time limit this is sometimes impossible. In 1999 for example only 37% of the participants reached the finish line. In the 25-year history there were already 56 cases of death listed, including nine children who were stroke by a racing car.
Argentina’s capital will be start and finish at the 2009 rally. The route leads across South-America from East to West and back; the western city will be the Chilean setting of Valparaiso. Last Monday the organizers announced the date for this year’s rally. The race will be held between the 3rd and 18th of January. Dakar Chef Etienne Lavigne notified that all drivers who had been registered for the rally 2008 will be treated in preference at the inscriptions for the coming race.
About the Author
Emeli Dean is a high-ranking writer on sports for the sports betting industry. Feel free to reprint this article in its whole on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content.
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