Lanka to host Raid Amazon in January

Sri Lanka is set to host the world’s biggest women’s multi-sport adventure race - Raid Amazon, in January 2008 and over 300 participants are expected.

With the French Foreign Ministry switching to Green and giving the go ahead to travel to Sri Lanka, the French organizer (ZBO) of the internationally acclaimed Raid Amazones has decided to hold its 7th edition in January 2008 in Sri Lanka. Raid Amazones has previously been hosted in exotic travel destinations in Guyana, Reunion, Mauritius and Kenya and Sri Lanka in 2004.

The Raid is a multi-sport adventure race where around 200-250 women, make up teams of three, and over a

 period of 6 days participate in various events, ranging from biking, canoeing, jungle courses and going on to multiple other outdoor activities.

The idea being one of enjoying, discovering and relishing a country’s landscape, its people, culture and traditions while engaging in sporting activities. Teams from UK, Canada, Sweden, Belgium and Germany have already confirmed their participation.

This event is due to get wide media coverage in France and other western European counties with NRJ Radio, the No. 1 radio station in France as the official radio partner of Raid giving daily on site live broadcasts of the event from Sri Lanka.

All French TV channels have agreed to telecast two minute clips of the event in progress, giving the destination and the most picturesque scenes from Sri Lanka wide publicity. Around ten print media journalists are also scheduled to travel to Sri Lanka.

Deputy Minister of Tourism, Faiszer Musthapha said that the fact that Sri Lanka was selected as a destination clearly proves the confidence in the destination. This event was canvassed when there was travel advisories against the country, yet it proved to be a success.

According to the President of ZBO, Alexandre Debanne a well known radio and TV personality in France, the reason to organize this event in Sri Lanka once again, is to show the true picture of Sri Lanka to the French public interested in travelling.

“We want to tell everyone that Sri Lanka is the place to visit as there are so many tourist sites to see within a short distance of each other. In fact, as soon as the host country for 2008 was announced, we had over 60 teams applying to participate in the event.”

He said that this is the first time a 3G network was being used for their event and coverage. This is a big advantage,” he said.

Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, together with national career SriLankan Airlines, SLT, Mobitel and transAsia, are the principal local sponsors of the event. Connaissance de Ceylan will be coordinating the logistics, as the camp site, where the competitors will stay, is in close proximity to Amaya Lake.

Commenting on the event Chairman SriLanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Renton de Alwis opined “Sri Lankan getting the opportunity to host this event, is a recognition of the country as a sporting destination,” De Alwis said.

(SS)