LÜDERITZ – This year sees at least 18 different nationalities represented at the 7th edition of the annual Chris Benz Speed Challenge, which got underway in Lüderitz on Monday. The competition ends on November 2.
Apart from hosts Namibia, Italy leads the strong contingent of participants that includes France, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, England, Serbia, Russia, Fiji, Germany, Greece, Belgium, Turkey, Czech Republic, Switzerland, South Africa and Austria.
Sports minister Jerry Ekandjo welcomed the competitors during the opening ceremony. “With this event being followed in the international and social media, the world is literally standing on our doorstep and will be watching all of you and us over the next four weeks,” said Ekandjo.
He further stated that events such as the speed challenge have the potential to build bridges between tourism and sport as they connect people and places in a very unique way.
“Take for instance such a remote little place like Lüderitz, having a population of less than 30 000 people, tucked away within the oldest desert in the world and can be reached by one road only, which is very often covered by sand dunes.”
Ekandjo emphasized the significance of the event encouraging the town’s inhabitants to grab the opportunity with both hands, in an effort to make the event become bigger and better with greater economic significance to Lüderitz.