from the official website:



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 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.

Stay in bed, wrap up warm and don't do anything which raises the heart rate: guaranteed safety & security for a long life!

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Dave

As the head of the french broadcasters said...... common sense prevailed.
I agree.

It took more guts to cansel than to continue.
After direct threats from terrorist groups againt the rally and its riders, it was the rigth decission.

Theese are not adventure riders. They are proffesional riders and driver in a competiton.

Congratulations to ASO for having the guts to cansel.
If they didnt and 1 life got lost to terrorism, Paris Dakar would have been history due to bad leadership and philosphy.

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Dizzie

Dizzie,

It is a mindgame, and the terrorist mentality is winning the game.

"One death is a tragedy, a million is a statistic" - Joe Stalin (he understood the Western mentality).

"Going to war without the French is like going to war without your accordian" - you can look this one up.

Apart from that, the PD may be history in any case; who is going to spend and prepare in the next year when the French Govn can cancel it at one day's notice?

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Dave

Was it not ASO, and not the French Gov that cancelled the event?

Everyone has been put in a 'catch 22' position, It shows once again that terrorism can never be beaten. Without actually doing anything to the rally they(the terrorists) have forced it's cancellation. In theory they could 'finish' the event for ever by threatening future 'Dakars'. On ther other hand if the threats were ignored and people were injured/killed, ASO would themselves be'finished'.

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'He who laughs last, was too slow to get the joke'
Never confuse the map with the journey.

"It doesn't work like that" - recent advert on UK TV (but very accurate statement).

I agree Dave, I think it is finished, for the immediate future anyway.

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Dave

This is terrible news.My sympathies to the father and family of those murdered by these scum and also to the families of the soldiers i hear were killed.And to all the teams that have got out there to race.
I have literally just finished packing my panniers for my trip down to watch some sections.I was due to leave Alicante tomorrow morning.I wanna SCREAM!
Similar thing happened in 2001 when the TT was cancelled,although i think there were a couple of months notice given on that one.Why cancel at such short notice?
I will still leave tomorrow morning minus camping epuipment.....lost that edge now though.
Anyone else still going down?We could meet up for a ......well!we will have all the time in the world....unless we organise our very own RACE to DAKAR.

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Dean

I agree with Walkabout. This is a sort of mindgame and who step back loses the game!!

I am sure that the western governments are be able to secure the race, but, it looks that they just dont want it. they dont want to spend money and time with a desert race.

hope it wont be canceled forever.

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ozhan u.
website under construction

Still planning to go. No choice, seeing as the bike's in a truck somewhere in Spain, but I would continue anyway as the Rally is only the sideshow to having fun in the sun in Morocco.

More details on my blog: There and Back Again

Tim

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"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

So the Terrorists win again....... I wonder if the organisers of the Dakar will refund Fees to the Competitors?
Or will they use the usual "Terrorism/Acts of god are not Insured for so sorry you lose your Money Line"...........?

Either way, There are a lot of people gonna be SERIOUSLY out of pocket!


Martyn

There are not only professionals and race teams in the Dakar.

There are "Privateers" from many countries, some of who have put their life savings into getting to the Dakar.

To cancel it at such a late stage is a disaster for many people.

There are also many riders who have gone to follow the rally. A lot of them will be in Portugal now.

Why was this decision not made weeks ago?

So the Dakar has gone, live to race another day.
Terrorists don't come onto the battlefield and say I am here come and get me they hide in the shadows.
Slowly,slowly, catchy monkey.

Ian

Best thing to do in the circumstances and the right attitude Tim.

If you don't mind me saying so, Lisbon-Dakar never sounded right anyway, nothing like the sound of "P-D".

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Dave

Killing of 4 French tourists was on or around 28 Dec, Christmas and New Year get in the way of decision making & listening to the advice of the bureaucrats and Sarkocey (spelling?) is relatively new in the job - that list will do for a start.

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Dave

Tim, how safe with your knowledge and experiance would travel to Senagal be we are already in Essouria waiting to travel down in time for the cancelled stages any advice would be helpfull but please only realtime or fact based
regards
Steve