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Saturday 17 November 2007
Swiss double amputee cyclist Armin Köhli has successfully met his latest challenge: cover 4’800 km by bike in 48 days in order to raise public awareness about the scourge of landmines and explosive remnants of war. Armin Köhli left Geneva on October 1st and will reach the shores of the Dead Sea this afternoon, on time for the 8th Meeting of the States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty which will be starting tomorrow.
While choosing the most direct route to Jordan, Armin Köhli crossed 13 European and Middle Eastern countries- 8 of which are directly affected by mines and explosive remnants of war: Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan. Through his amazing sports and humanitarian challenge, Armin Köhli aimed at raising public awareness about the severe impact of landmines which still kill or maim over 15’000 people every year, half of which are children. His objective was also to to insist on the urge to increase assistance for landmine survivors and for their socio-economic reintegration.
Armin arriving at the Dead Sea in Jordan. Photo: M. Balci.
Despite several difficulties, Armin Köhli managed to successfully achieve his cycling journey. In the countries he crossed, he was warmly welcomed by organisations and associations, local authorities and Swiss representatives on many occasions. He also had the opportunity to make very rewarding encounters with landmine survivors, students and mine action personnel. Numerous cyclists - amongst which also renowned professionals – accompanied him through many stages of his journey. The project was enriched by many sports, cultural or humanitarian events, ranging from a sitting-volleyball game in Bosnia to a public happening on Taksim Square in Istanbul or a moving visit of the town of Qunaitra in the Golan Heights.
Armin Köhli will leave Amman today at 10 a.m. in front of Hotel Commodore, together with a group of cyclists from the Tarif Cycling club. He will arrive at the Dead Sea, at King Hussein Bin Tallal Conference center around 1.p.m.
The project “Cycling against Landmines: from Lake Geneva to the Dead Sea” was coordinated by the Swiss Campaign to Ban Landmines and placed under the high patronage of Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey and Prince Mired Al-Hussein of Jordan.
For further information, please contact:
Cyril Amberg (in Geneva), project coordinator at c.amberg@stopmines.ch, +41 79 432 83 03 or Manuela Langer (in Amman), +41 787 70 85 88 or visit www.stopmines.ch.
