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This year Karelia will host several auto racings, including of the All-Russia signigficance. Head of the Republic Sergey Katanandov has signed the decree on the event execution. All competitions will be devoted to the 90th anniversary of Karelia.

On January 22-23 the Yakkima 2010 rally takes place in Lahdepohja region. It has become tradition that many years Lahdepohja has been a venue for stages of the automobile rally Cup of Russia and Championship of the Northwest Federal District. During the competitions there come thousands of spectators from different corners of Russia. On tracks pilots of ralley cars demonstrate unforgettable jumps on the highest speeds and filigree driving control technology.

Stages of the Automobile Rally Championship of Russia will be also held in territory of Lahdepohja region: Lahdepohja 2010 on March 5-6 and Midnight Sun 2010 on June 18-19. History of organization of the Midnight Sun rally has old traditions: for the first time the competition was held in 1963. Since then the rally is held annually (except for 1992) gathering the strongest sportsmen and lots of fans. Karelian roads fast and plenteous of abrupt turns and springboards are recognized by sportsmen among the Russia's most interesting and difficult.

On May 21-23 in territory of two areas - Sortavala and Lahdenpohja - there will be held a stage of Karelia-2010 Cross Country Rally Championship of Russia. Sports-subject cross country rally competitions combine elements of tourism, orienteering and auto racings. Participants of cross country rally cover the distance completing various sports and game tasks related to orienteering and gathering of reward points.

To carry out and prepare the All-Russia auto racing and cross country rally competitions in regions of the republic the Head of the Republic of Karelia by his decree has appointed the steering committee of the republic headed by the Assistant to the Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Karelia Valery Momotov.

Traffic safety along the competition tracks will be provided by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and security including fire safety of participants of the auto racings will be provided the State Committee for Life Support and Safety of Population. Ministry of Health and Social Development is made responsible for medical care of participants of auto racing and cross country rally competitions. Heads of Sortavala and Lahdenpohja regions are recommended to form steering committees for preparation and carrying out of competitions in territory of their municipal entities.

Except for heads of the corresponding ministries and departments the the steering committee of the republic includes Igor Kan, president of the Off-Road 4x4 St.-Petersburg federation famous among the Russian racing drivers, Olga Sivacheva, executive director of the Automobile Federation of St.-Petersburg and Leningrad Region inter-regional public organization, and Vladimir Kiselyov, president of the Federation of Automobile Sports of the Republic of Karelia Karelian regional public organization.