Now this is going to get a lot of people pissed
al-Qaida really stepped in it this time.
From the
International Herald Tribune:
Dakar Rally canceled as organizers fear terror attacks
Danger and the Dakar Rally have long been synonymous: Dozens have died racing from Europe across some of the world's most inhospitable terrain to the western tip of Africa.
But the threat of an al-Qaida-linked attack pushed the element of risk to levels organizers deemed unacceptable. They canceled the epic race on Friday, meaning terrorists have ensured there will be no spectacular images this year of dune buggies throwing up clouds of dust and lone motorcycle riders spinning their wheels in Saharan sands.
It was the first time that the 30-year-old rally, one of the biggest competitions in automobile racing, has been called off.
The cancellation of such a world-renowned sports event is rare, particularly as a pre-emptive measure against terrorism. Even the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich continued, following a 34-hour pause, after 11 Israeli athletes and coaches were killed by Palestinian gunmen.
Victor Anderes, vice president of special projects at Global Security Associates, a New York-based firm that provides security for high-profile events including the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, called the cancellation unprecedented.
"Smaller cultural events have been canceled before because of terror threats, but this hasn't happened with such a major international event," he said.
It used to be called the
Paris-Dakar rally (they left from Paris) but now, they leave from Lisbon (less road driving) and it's now called either Lisbon-Dakar or just Dakar.
It's not just the race. The rally used to infuse the area with lots of cash from news reporters, support and spectators so this is going to piss off the locals. It was also a major showcase for companies like BMW (here are some of
their motorcycles), Land Rover, Range Rover, Mercedes-Benz G, Volkswagen,
Pinzgauer, Toyota, Nissan and others.
Any possible sympathies that al-Qaida could have garnered both at home and in the rest of the world have been seriously damaged.
Good move on them!
Posted by DaveH at January 5, 2008 10:00 AM