2016 Dakar Rally: Bolivia to be involved in all categories

IANS
Local men ride their motorbike and bicycle as the sun sets at 2014’s Dakar Rally

La Paz (Bolivia), April 25 : Bolivian President Evo Morales and Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) director Etienne Lavigne have announced that the South American country will be involved in all categories of next year's Dakar Rally.

ASO, the company that owns the rally raid, officially launched the 2016 Dakar Rally here on Friday which will go through Bolivia for a third consecutive year, reports Xinhua.

Morales expressed his satisfaction for this new edition of the race as Bolivia will be included, for the first time, in all categories -- motorbikes, quads, cars and trucks.

"This is a new happiness for the Bolivian people. Now the Dakar Rally will not only go through Oruro and Potosi but also the region of La Paz. It will not only be with motorbikes and cars but now also with trucks," Morales said.

The race course will pass through territories close to Lake Titicaca which is on the border with Peru, and then head on through Oruro, Potosi and leave Bolivia through the Villazon region in the south of the landlocked country. From there, the race will cross the border into Argentina.

"We always jump at the opportunity to allow the Bolivian people to participate through our armed forces, police and all government institutions so that they can welcome (foreigners) and continue advancing into the coming years," continued Morales.

"We have carried out very beautiful editions (of the Dakar Rally) through the unique and majestic Salar de Uyuni (the world's largest salt flat in southwest Bolivia) and the Bolivian coordination has been excellent. Thanks Bolivia and long live the Dakar party," said the ASO director.

The Dakar Rally 2016 will go through Peru, Bolivia and Argentina. It will be the eighth consecutive edition that will take place in South America since it left African continent in 2009 due to security threats.

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Edited by Staff Editor