Event
GENESIS OF THE RALLY
A sporting event, other than the show that it offers can have a message to bring. The discipline of rally-raid with the dimension of voyage and discovery precisely offers certain values. It is with the intention to consolidate the links between the respective countries that the presidents of Turkmenistan, Russia and Kazakhstan have imagined and conceived the international SILK WAY rally. The will to lead this common project found its inspiration in the example of cooperation given by these three united and stable countries.
It is the president of Turkménistan, Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov who first had the idea of a race that would cross three fraternal countries to present to the entire world territories where the ancient civilisation lives along with modernity. Thanks to the media exposure of an international sporting event, the project of the integration of these three countries around this federative idea could indeed progress.
On the occasion of his official visit to Ashkhabad, Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, decided to bring his support. The Russian and Turkmen initiative was then welcomed with enthusiasm by Nursultan Nazarbayev, president of Kazakhstan. And that was when the itinerary of the future rally was designed and the course was baptised: the SILK WAY (“Ýüpek ýoly”).
Some history
The course of the SILK WAY could be divided in two major parts that represent two ancien routes: The Gold Way and the Silk Way.
Kazan – Turkmenbashi / The Gold WayThe Gold Way was the Scandinavia-Persia commerce route that linked the kingdoms of Scandinavia to powerful Iran. The center of this route was at Bulgar, capital of former Bulgaria of the Volga from the 10th to the 13th century. The Bulgarians of the Volga are the direct ancient ancestors of the Tatars of Kazan that became the capital after the invasions of the Mongols.
Turkmenbashi – Ashkhabad / The Silk WayAround 700 years ago, Marco Polo wrote about his voyage and his discoveries on the Great Silk Way in the “Discoveries of the World”. His main work mentioned the adventures of intrepid pioneers looking for unknown countries and treasures. Confronted to nomad attacks, as well as the aridity of the desert and the sand storms, these voyagers of extreme would often spend years to cover this route.
The term “Silk Way”, that was introduced during the 14th century actually indicates all the caravan ways that cross Europe and Asia, going from the Mediterranean all the way to China going through Central Asia. The caravans that used this route from the 3rd to the 16th century, transported merchandises but also conveyed ideas, values and religions.
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