Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych attended the opening ceremony of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge Prime Yalta Rally 2011 in Yalta on Thursday, the presidential press service has reported.
The head of state congratulated the rally participants and spectators on the start of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge series that will be held on the southern coast of Crimea.
"Today Ukraine is the host of this grand international championship. Eighty-seven crews from 21 countries are participating in the event," Yanukovych said.
The president noted that this sport is popular in the world and attracts tens of thousands of people directly on the tracks and millions watching it on TV.
"The provision of the status of an Intercontinental Rally Challenge series to the Prime Yalta Rally and the successful performance of Ukrainian sportsmen at world-class competitions indicate that Ukrainian motorsport is winning authority in the world. And Ukraine is becoming more open to the world and tourists, whom we will always welcome on our Ukrainian soil," Yanukovych said.
