There’s no doubt that the Dakar Rally brings in millions of dollars of revenue into every one of its host countries, the question is whether it leaves any behind.
DAKAR DREAMS
The carbon footprint of an event like this one is astounding. It’s not just the competitors' vehicles and the waste and disruption to the environment that they cause, but all the thousands of support and emergency vehicles, press, police and fans contributing to the absolute and also thrilling chaos on the land and in the air.
Thankfully, somewhere along the way, hosts began to insist on partnering with the Dakar and dipping into its ample coffers for a “little help around here.”
'In 2019 the Dakar Rally boasts involvement in more than 400 local partnerships within the South American host country, including special attention to the immediate environment. Check the attached Press Release for more details, but the newest initiative being taken by the Dakar is to compensate for the toll the competition takes on the environment with a commitment to avoid setting the route through sensitive natural habitats and thoroughly clean up after itself.
Additionally, the Peruvian Blood Donor Association is set up to receive blood donations for its very needy blood bank, Dutch competitor Richard de Groot will again help re-stock fire stations along the way in addition to buying another new firetruck for the station in Pisco (seems logical, since they likely use those services regularly as well), and French competitor Stéphane Bouvier has arranged for a team to hand out coloring supplies to school children along the race-route. Also, 1,500 Peruvian children from under-privileged backgrounds are invited to tour the bivouacs and interact with the racers and other personnel.
Larger contributions to the local welfare happen through the charitable non-governmental Organization (NGO) Techo, which is active in 19 Latin American countries. The Japan Racing Management Co., Ltd. celebrated its 50th anniversary by donating US$20,000 to the 2019 Dakar Rally educational project that handed out, among other gifts, hundreds of new laptops. Financial and volunteer contributions for 2019 will go towards “the construction of a community center, a sports field and emergency housing in the San Juan de Miraflores region,” describes the Dakar Website. The “Amaury Sport Organization will also donate clothes for TECHO to distribute to underprivileged people.”
The collaboration with “Waves For Water” (W4W) will “bring access to clean water to rural and isolated locations along rally stages 1-4,” with a particular focus on schools, individual families, and access to water filtration and education about healthy water systems for local leaders with the end goal of providing clean water to over 10,000 people.
It’s a good amount of positive impact in an area that can certainly use more than just tourism to improve conditions for the millions of people who struggle to survive along the path of the rally all year round. So while you’re watching your favorite competitors to pull through and soldier ahead in this compelling endurance challenge, know that your entertainment is attempting to make life less of a challenge for the locals.
'Source: Dakar Rally
The Dakar fights for the environment and solidarity on all fronts
Safeguarding the environment and compensating the carbon footprint
➢ Over 300 points and 70 permanent information signs have been set up in sensitive areas since 2017
➢ Over 100 tonnes of waste collected from the bivouacs
➢ “Green Points” set up in all the bivouacs to collect, process and recycle hazardous waste separately
➢ 15,000 tonnes of CO² compensated through a couple of environmental projects: GREENOXX Madre de Dios Amazon REDD (fight against deforestation) and CIMA — Cordillera Azul (conservation)
Helping one another is just as important as the competition for Dakar participants. The organisers aim to foster the same spirit outside the race through their support for social projects. For example, the Dakar has been working with TECHO for a decade. This organisation is active in 19 South American countries, where it carries out actions such as building emergency housing. The Dakar is also joining forces with the Peruvian Blood Donor Association (which will have an information bus at the Feria Dakar) and organising daily visits to the bivouac for children from an underprivileged background (1,500 children in total).