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DIRETTORE @ Jan 15th 2008 8:52PM
*** Can someone PLEASE help me understand any of this at all???!!!
Im breaking my huevos here trying to figure out what is the reason or logic? The Dakar Rally puts Africa on the map every year at a time they need it most. Its free publicity for their ministries of tourism. Everyone has shops, restaurants, hotels. One of the founding principles of the Olympics was that sports should nurture & foster international relations, understanding & respect for one another. Rally racers are good people, often running at their own expense & for charitable causes. Motorheads are so non-political. Just passionate about what they do.
And if Im not mistaken, they are mostly europeans running anyway. I think they really shot themselves in the foot. If there are any native africans around we'd like to hear what you think? - PEACE! PACE! PAZ! -
tankd0g @ Jan 15th 2008 9:57PM
The fear mongers got to them which is unfortunate because there's plenty to be afraid of in South America too.
Duncan @ Jan 16th 2008 12:05AM
Yes, but if we went through life fearing anything that might have a chance at harming us, there wouldn't be anything resembling the dangerous sport that is auto racing.
That said, running a rally-raid through dangerous territory - which the Dakar had done for the last few years despite various threats - is one thing. Having the rally directly threatened, to the point of government intervention, is an entirely different matter. Regardless of tradition, I don't think anyone involved with the rally wanted to get involved in a shooting war.
You'll note that most racing was suspended during World War II as well - kinda hard to run Grand Prix races when half the countries involved are bombing each other. I would also suspect that no one's going to attempt putting together a rally stage for Iraq anytime soon.