Have any other Dopers heard anything about the Dakar Rally being cancelled this year because of threated al-Qaeda attacks?
Here’s an AP story on it.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080104/ap_on_re_af/car_dakar_rally;_ylt=Ale6YcMpwluwMLD32rn3ipVvaA8F
The terrorists won.
Yeah. Ridiculous.
Maybe, but if they think there’s a credible risk of a terrorist incident, better to cancel the race then go on with it and suffer loss of life.
Yea, except it’s not like they don’t loose anyone without terrorists. Couldn’t find very good numbers, but as of 2005 they’d lost 45 competitors in 25 years, and apparently its not unusual for a couple locals to get run over during the course of the race every year either.
It’s not just the drivers that are at risk. There would be all sorts of race staff, pit/support crews, spectators, media (film crews buzzing around out in the middle of nowhere), and so on that would be vulnerable.
Straightforward question with a factual answer.
Moved from GD to GQ.
[ /Modding ]
I’m surprised it hasn’t been cancelled in previous years.
I’m imagining now them roaring over dunes in VW campers with a man popping out the top with a balaclava and RPG.