体坛英语新闻：Peru celebrates hosting of Dakar Rally 2012

LIMA, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Peru will host the Dakar Rally 2010, which according to president of the Peruvian Sports Institute (IDP) Arturo Woodman, represents a triumph for the country's international image, local press said on Thursday.

Woodman said that Peru will invest some 5 million U.S. dollars to the organization of this competition, which will be held in Tacna, Arequipa, Nasca, Ica and Lima, with profits about 15 times more than the invested.

He said that the competition is important for Peru's image in the world, because it is an event broadcasted to 190 countries and regions.

Woodman said that the idea of hosting this competition in Peru, was because that, due to security reasons two years ago it was moved from Senegal to Argentina and Chile, so Peru proposed to also host it.

"The organizers analyzed our proposal, we insisted and today it is a reality," he said.

Woodman said that Peru will host the competition next year, but they have not defined yet the rout of the races, as they cannot pass by archeological zone, such as the Nasca lines.

The Dakar Rally is one of the most challenging competitions and it is hosted the first weeks of January each year.