LA PAZ, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Bolivia's President Evo Morales officially announced on Friday that the Dakar Rally will be held in Bolivian territory next January for the third time.
Morales thanked the organizers for including Bolivia in the route as this decision will promote the South American country among foreign visitors.
The event was attended by the director of Amaury Sport Organization (ASO), Etienne Lavigne, and its Executive Director Marc Coma, who said the rally will meet the Bolivian people's expectations.
"We are looking for endurance, mechanical knowledge and good preparation in the 2016 edition. Dakar 2016 promises to be an odyssey," said Coma, adding that "for the first time in the rally's history, we will mix all the categories at the start line."
Drivers from the five continents will participate in the 2016 edition which begins on Jan. 3 in Buenos Aires, Argentina's capital city. Next, between Jan. 7 and 9 the race will cross over to Bolivia and it will end on Jan. 16 in the Argentinian city of Rosario.
According to the schedule, on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, ASO will hold the technical and administrative checks in Buenos Aires.