LA PAZ, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Bolivia's President Evo Morales Wednesday pledged to invest what's needed to showcase "the best" of Bolivia at next year's Dakar Rally, an annual off-road endurance race that will for the first time include the South American country.
"We are going to prove that Bolivia is ready to meet these types of world challenges, such as the Dakar Rally," said Morales. "We are going to invest resources and logistics to show the best of the country."
The Amaury Sports Organisation (ASO), organizers of the race, Wednesday confirmed Bolivia will form part of the 2014 route, which will begin in the Argentinean city of Rosario on Jan. 5, wend through Bolivia's Potosi region, and conclude in Chile's city of Valparaiso Jan. 18.
The announcement makes Bolivia the 28th country ever to host the rally, and the fourth Latin American country to do so.
Morales described Bolivia's incorporation in the rally as a " great victory", saying the race made for a gripping sporting event.
"Bolivia wins," he added, "I remember when (this year) the rally was near Tarija (Argentina), and I watched people from Santa Cruz and Cochabamba going to Tarija ... to see Dakar. Now, they won't have to go to Argentina."
The president of the Bolivian Auto Racing Federation, Armin Franulic, said he was committed to working with the government to ensure a successful rally in Bolivia.
"We will work to make Dakar 100 percent successful and prove Bolivia can host this type of event at any time. Congratulations, Mr. President for this achievement," said Franulic.
Neighboring Peru, which served as site of the rally's starting line in 2012 and formed part of the route again in 2013, will not form part of the 2014 edition, organizers said.
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