体坛英语新闻：Bolivia is close to be included in 2014 Dakar Rally: President

LA PAZ, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Bolivia's President Evo Morales Wednesday said his country "is close" to be included in the 2014 Dakar Rally, due to the negotiations held with organizers of the international motoring event.

"We are close to achieve the goal, due to we have held negotiations for two or three years. My government will continue negotiating, with the participation of our institutions and experts in the motoring issue to guarantee this international event," said Morales during a public event.

Before the beginning of the 2013 Dakar Rally Jan. 5, Bolivia was informed that to be part of the 2014 edition, the country needs the support of Peru and Argentina, besides investing some four million U.S. dollars for the organization.

At the beginning of January, Minister of the Presidency Juan Ramon Quintana and Culture Minister Pablo Groux said they began the negotiations in Lima, Peru, with the representatives of Amaury Sport Organization (ASO), the rally's organizer.

About the negotiations, Morales said that according to the last meeting held by Groux and Quintana with the organizers,"they have advanced a lot."

Morales asked all the government's institutions and authorities to be prepared to contribute in the possible development of the rally in Bolivia.

On the other hand, Quintana said Dakar Rally is an open door so that Bolivia can show the world its tourism capacity and its current economic growth.

Quintana said Bolivia has the conditions to be part of the international motoring competence and that it's essential to position Bolivia as a country brand in the world context and the rally is the door for this tourism goal.

The minister added that Bolivia's participation in Dakar Rally will be useful to promote extraordinary tourist sites, such as Salar de Uyuni, the world's largest salt flat, as well as the Bolivian Amazonian and tropical regions, among others.