Tatarstan President and RF Sport Minister gave start to Silk Way-2009

Presidents of four countries – Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan will welcome the Silk Way-2009 rally participants on the finish.

The Silk Way rally of Dakar series starts in Kazan September 5 and ends September 13 in Ashkhabad. Presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan – the countries where the rally will take place – Dmitry Medvedev, Nursultan Nazarbaev and Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov will meet the racers in Turkmenbashi. Besides, the head of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev has been invited to the finish ceremony.

The official opening ceremony of the rally was held at noon on the square near Tatneft-Arena. Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev, the Russian Federation Minister for Sport, Tourism and Youth Policy Vitaly Mutko and other officials greeted sportsmen.

The rally director, five-time winner of Paris-Dakar rally, KAMAZ-Master team leader Semyon Yakubov informed that if both audience and participants like the race, the Silk Way event may become traditional. In such case, motorcyclists will have a chance to participate in the competition.