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Sixty scooter and motorcycle riders from 11 countries around the world participated in the fourth season of the international cross-country rally, entitled the “Cross Egypt Challenge.” The rally aims to revive and promote Egypt’s tourism.

After crossing 2,950km over nine days, the challengers reached the finish line on the 22nd of November at the Giza Pyramids.

“The idea of the rally came to mind after the 25 January Revolution when tourism dropped significantly due to security disruptions and the general unrest of the country,” said Ahmed El-Zoghby, founder of the Cross Egypt Challenge.

With the help of his friends, El-Zoghby used social media to invite scooter riders from different countries to participate in a tour through Egypt. He also invited many international TV channels to cover the tour.

In 2011, 15 riders from Egypt, Mexico, United States and Brazil participated in the event crossing a distance of 1,700km on their scooters, said Hadeer El-Masry, the event’s media representative. In 2012, the number of participants increased as more riders joined from Germany, England, Greece, Argentina and Denmark.

This season’s tour started in Alexandria, and continued to Ain Sokhna, El Gouna, Marsa Alam, Luxor, Aswan, and Assiut, before ending in Cairo. The challenge included riders on high powered motorcycles as well as the usual lower capacity scooters.

Eventhough dozens of applications to join the event are received annually, there is a set of standards in choosing theparticipants.

“The most important criteria for choosing the accepted applications include riding experience, physical stamina, and age, as well as having internationally valid motor licenses,” El-Zoghby added.

Khaled Mounir, a photographer who participated in the second, third and fourth seasons of the event, described it as “… one of the most interesting adventures you could ever experience in your whole life.

Cross Egypt is a lifetime experience where you can meet people from different cultures, professions, customs, traditions and mentalities. The event organizers always make it easy as they provide us with medical insurance, mechanical and technical support as well as accommodation and food services.”

Mounir furthers that riding scooters and motorcycles is the best way to overcome the traffic crisis in Egypt.  He also expressed pride in the female participation in the event, noting that it is a great way to break the taboo and alter the existing social stereotypes around girls who ride motorcycles.

Meanwhile, El-Masry urges Egyptian youth to launch similar campaigns and events to encourage Egyptian tourism and change the picture that the international media has painted of Egypt.

“Exploring the hidden beauty in your country should be considered a national duty,” she said. “It is a shame to travel to other countries when you have such treasures on your own land.”

(Source: Daily News Egypt )

 

 

Мотоциклисты пересекают Египет ради продвижения туризма

Шестьдесят гонщиков на скутерах и мотоциклах из 11 стран мира приняли участие в четвертом сезоне международного ралли кросс-кантри под названием «Cross Egypt Challenge». С помощью этого ралли планируется сделать рекламу туризму в этой стране.

После того, как гонщики за 9 дней покрыли расстояние в 2950 километров, они достигли финишной линии, которая располагается прямо перед пирамидами Гизы, и 22 ноября это мероприятие было уже завершено. Ахмед Эль-Жогби, основатель Cross Egypt Challenge: «Идея о создании раллийного соревнования пришла мне в голову после революции, которая состоялась 25 января, когда большое количество туристов отказались приезжать в нашу страну из-за беспорядков и отсутствия спокойствия и стабильности, от которых страна страдала.»

С помощью своих друзей, а также при помощи социальных сетей Эль-Жогби приглашал гонщиков на скутерах из различных стран поучаствовать в турне по Египту. Также он пригласил большое количество международных телевизионных каналов для освещения данного соревнования.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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