DDakar South America

I've seen the adds for this on TV. and it made me wonder about he people who organize and run such events.

We were in Buenos Aires for the start of last years event. When we took a tour inEastern Patagonia, around the area near Puerto Madyn, our guide told us of the local opposition to this event because of the destruction of roads, fences, the local wildlife and the general ecology and environment. Apparently the locals will not co-operate or partake in the event.

Other parts of Argentina are lke minded. Makes you wonder, does it not.?

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Apparently the locals will not co-operate or partake in the event.

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Not according to the pictures I see on the updates on SBS.

Locals are out to watch the cars, bikes and trucks and assist with repairs in some cases.

The reason they probably don't partake is that they don't have the money.

I saw a part of the highlights for the first year they went to south america and it appeared to be that the organizers go to great lengths to accommodate the people of the countries that they drive through. They claim to have sweepers that come in behind the competitors and clean up all the detrious that they leave behind during the rally. I guess that the damage to the roads and suchlike could be offset by the money they inject int the economies the those countries?

The commentator on yesterday's programme said over one million Argentines turned up to watch the race. Apparently the Dakar has reached fever pitch in S. America and now ranks second to soccer in popularity.

Formula One pales by comparrison. At last year's F1 event in Melbourne, more spectators turned up to watch the V8 Supercars than to watch the F1 main event.

What you say and Specialist are points I put to the tour guide But she was adamant that what she had told us was true.

Perhaps she was opposed to the event herself and had some support fom local sheep farmers to support her pint of view.