ALBANIA: The annual GUMBALL 3000 rally stops in Albania, bringing million dollar cars and celebrities with it

Record ID: 560968

  • Title: ALBANIA: The annual GUMBALL 3000 rally stops in Albania, bringing million dollar cars and celebrities with it
  • Date: 9th May 2007
  • Summary: PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA IS GIVEN A RIDE BY ONE OF THE DRIVERS
  • Embargoed: 24th May 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Albania
  • Country: Albania
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVADOHZXYSZZOZBXYNGSGWQCTCBH
  • Story Text: The GUMBALL 3000 rally came to Albania's Mother Teresa Square in the course of the annual race from the U.K. to the Balkans and back.
    Car lovers in Europe's second poorest country kept taking pictures with their cameras and cellphones of the most expensive cars some of them had ever seen, with some of the female spectators breaking the heavy security cordon to pose with drivers. On the other hand, many of the male fans faced disappointment, as star Pamela Anderson did not show up as announced.
    Albania's Prime Minister Sali Berisha turned out himself to welcome the drivers, who stayed overnight in Tirana, before continuing their trip to Montenegro and then on to Croatia.
    "Let me wish a very warm welcome to all the celebrities that arrived here. The citizens have been waiting for hours to see them. They are coming with the great message of peace, good understanding, love and success," Berisha told reporters. "This is an extraordinarily special and happy occasion. The first ever visit to Albania is an honour, the Albanians feel very proud of their presence here," he added.
    "They are very proud of you being here," Berisha told one of those celebrities, U.S. rapper Xzibit (real name Alvin Nathaniel Joiner IV) who is taking part in the tour.
    "It's been a long drive, we're coming from Athens, but we did it. It took a little longer because of the roads, but we got here and I am very excited to be in Albania for the first time," adding that the tour had been a once in lifetime experience.
    Formerly communist Albania has launched an ambitious road-building programme but some sections of its roads are a nightmare of potholes, especially for some of the low fast cars taking part in GUMBALL 3000.
    Drivers left London last Sunday (April 29) and travelled across Germany, Turkey, Greece, Macedonia and Albania. They will head for Dubrovnik in Croatia, Bratislava in Slovakia, Berlin and then back to England on Saturday (May 5) to conclude the ninth edition of the race.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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