Currently reading: Dakar rally raid cancelled
Organisers of toughest race of all call off the 2008 Dakar in fear of terrorism

This year's Dakar Rally has been scrapped because of threats made by terrorist groups.The classic rally raid, the most famous off-road event on the calendar, was due to start in Lisbon, Portugal, tomorrow (Jan 5). But the French government has advised its citizens against visiting Mauritania after four tourists were murdered there on Christmas Eve, and the African country makes up a large chunk of the event's route.Organisers informed the 570 competitors this morning that the event would not take place. A statement said: "Following several consultations with the French government - in particular the ministry of foreign affairs - and taking into account its firm recommendations, the organisers of the Dakar have taken the decision to cancel the 2008 edition of the rally."Stages have been cancelled on the Dakar before for a wide variety of reasons, but this is the first occasion that the entire event has been scrubbed.

John McIlroy

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DradusContact 7 January 2008

Re: Dakar rally raid cancelled

I agree, why feel ashamed for something that you have nothing to do with? Its like when english people get arrested at footy matches around the world. It makes me a little embarressed sure, but not ashamed. If anyone judges an entire people on a few individuals then thats what racism is.

SpecB 6 January 2008

Re: Dakar rally raid cancelled

jayrasheed wrote:

As a Lebanese and an arab, I am ashamed. I regret the days we have come to, to cancel such a monumental event due to threats from an organization that relates it self to arabs. I just hope that you don’t take what Al-quada is or represents, to be what all Arabs believe or embody. Please understand that we stand with you and support you against terrorism in all its forms.
I personally am very sorry, and apologize to all of you people on such a sad day. Believe me when I say that we are suffering from this same terrorism as you are, recently the Lebanese army was in a month long fight with an al-quada terrorist cell. A war that we won, but cost us over 160 men of our army’s finest men.

There is no need for you to personally apologise for this sad decision and what is happening in the world. I would imagine that most of the people on here can see that the various terrorist groups are not endorsed by all of the people in the Middle East and that their views are not the majority view and that we must fight this terrorism together.

jayrasheed 6 January 2008

Re: Dakar rally raid cancelled

As a Lebanese and an arab, I am ashamed. I regret the days we have come to, to cancel such a monumental event due to threats from an organization that relates it self to arabs. I just hope that you don’t take what Al-quada is or represents, to be what all Arabs believe or embody. Please understand that we stand with you and support you against terrorism in all its forms.
I personally am very sorry, and apologize to all of you people on such a sad day. Believe me when I say that we are suffering from this same terrorism as you are, recently the Lebanese army was in a month long fight with an al-quada terrorist cell. A war that we won, but cost us over 160 men of our army’s finest men.