La Paz (Bolivia), Nov 28 (IANS): Bolivia's President Evo Morales has officially announced that the Dakar Rally - the world's toughest cross-country race - will be held in Bolivian territory next January for the third time.

On Friday, Morales thanked the organisers for including Bolivia in the route as this decision will promote the South American country among foreign visitors, reported Xinhua.

The event was attended by Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) director Etienne Lavigne, and its executive director Marc Coma, who said the rally will meet the Bolivian people's expectations.

"We are looking for endurance, mechanical knowledge and good preparation in the 2016 edition. Dakar 2016 promises to be an odyssey," said Coma, adding that "for the first time in the rally's history, we will mix all the categories at the start line".

Drivers from the five continents will participate in the 2016 edition which begins on January 3 in Buenos Aires, Argentina's capital city. Next, between January 7 and 9 the race will cross over to Bolivia and it will end on January 16 in the Argentinian city of Rosario.