By: Aminata Sameena Sesay
The Director of the Budapest-Bamako-Freetown challenge rally, Andrew G. Szabo has at the finish line on Tuesday 8th November hailed Sierra Leone’s hospitality upon their arrival in the country.
The participants entered the country through Guinea and passed Monday night at Bureh Beach where a carnival was organized for them before they arrived at the finish line at Gigibonta eatery, Lumley beach.
According to Szabo, they have waited for two and a half years due to the COVID-19 outbreak for them to make the 19 day trip to Sierra Leone. He emphasized that, they have not experienced in other countries the warm recetion accorded them in Sierra Leone.
He stated that people were afraid to visit the country in the past due to the civil war, Ebola and COVID-19 pandemic that ravaged this part of the world. He further said that, Sierra Leone was not at the tourist map at the initial stage of the rally, but discovered it later.
The Budapest-Bamako-Freetown boss exclaimed that, Sierra Leone is a beautiful country given its natural beaches, friendly citizens and beautiful forestry that makes him fell in love with the country. He continued that this year’s Budapest challenge involved participants from all over the world not just from Europe.
When asked if the challenge would be renamed to the Budapest-Freetown Rally challenge from the Budapest-Bamako-Freetown Rally challenge; he said Bamako is the spiritual final destination for the challenge. He further said that, the exercise has been in existence for the past 17 years, noting that, different Africa countries have been chosen for the final destination.
He further described the difficulties they encountered when travelling across Africa, and said this year is the most difficult rally ever made in the history of the event.
Peter Dima, leader of the Dima Motor Team and leader said this is the first time he was participating in the rally and also the first time visiting Africa. He referred to Africa as a beautiful place and hopes to make more trips in the future.
Dima pointed out that, the reception accorded to them in Sierra Leone was very overwhelming and expressed his excitement to visit the country more in the future. He said the team has made so many humanitarian donations of schools items, medical supplies and participated in the planting of trees.
He reiterated that, the 19,000 (nineteen thousand) mile journey witnessed lots of challenges, especially in dessert areas, but asserted that it was worth the risk due to the fact that it is a memorable experience.
The Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Memunatu Pratt commended all Sierra Leoneans for opening their doors and making the environment, especially the beaches clean and safe for the visitors. She said with such attitude, the country will be rebranded in a positive image to the world.
The Honorary Consul of Hungary to Sierra Leone, Jihad N. Eter noted that the rally will strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries. He stated that, every year his country provides scholarships to students to support the President’s Free Quality School Education, noting that 44 benefited from this year’s scholarship scheme.
This is the second time for Sierra Leone to be chosen as the finish line of the Budapest-Bamako-Freetown challenge. The last rally took place in 2020.
Copyright (09/11/22)
