(Source: http://sverhnews.ru)

The winner of Kamchatka Dog Sled Race will receive three million. 

In 2014 the prize money of traditional Kamchatka Dog Sled Race Beringia is 6,000,000 rubles. The winner will get half of that amount, second and third prize winners two and one million rubles, respectively. 

Chairman of the organizing committee, deputy Prime Minister of the Krai, Alexei Voitov said that "Gazprom Transgaz Tomsk" company will be the general partner of the race. It will contribute in the race 6 million rubles. Organizing committee decided to allocate entire amount to the prize fund. "In our view, it is an adequate reward for participation in such a difficult and serious race. Now, the organizing committee is actively working with other sponsors as well. “Interminerals” company, traditional sponsor of Beringia race, has already confirmed its participation in the race" - the head of the organizing committee said. 

Beringia-2014 will have a new route. The race starts on March 2 in Elizovo, then passes through Milkovo, Klyuchi, Ossora and finishes in Tilichiki. In one-month-long race mushers will visit more than 20 settlements over Kamchatka. The official opening of the race is scheduled for March 1. A rich festival program is planned on Vitaly Fatyanov biathlon complex in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. There will be organized large-scale sporting events and a great concert featuring guest artists, whose names organizers keep in secret, so far. Children's "Dyulin" race and a short trial race will also start from the biathlon complex.

Acceptance of application for participation in the traditional Kamchatka Dog Sled Race has already begun and will last until February 1. 12 mushers, who as ever take part in the race, confirmed their participation in Beringia-2014. "We intend to attach a new status to the race, so the organizing committee has already sent invitations in 17 territories. They include both, regions of the Russian Federation and outside of our country. Taking into account the prize amount, which already can compete with the world's races, I think, mushers from other regions of Russia, and perhaps other countries will show up to participate in the race,” – the head of the organizing committee said. According to Alexei Voitov, Beringia-2014 will be a kind of a preparatory race for Kamchatka mushers. If in the next year the distance of Beringia will be increased from 950 to 1,300 kilometers, then in 2015 it will grow up to 2,200 kilometers. "In 2015 we plan to change the race route, increasing the distance that mushers should overcome, almost twice. Traditional route of Beringia is the distance from Esso to Ossora. We expect that in 2015 the race will start from Esso village, then will get to Ossora, turn to the south and return back to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky along the east coast of Kamchatka. 

So, Beringia-2015 will attempt to get included in Guinness Book of Records as the longest race in the world. Today, Iditarod, which takes place in Alaska, with the length of about 1800 kilometers, is the longest race. Just to remind that 6 million rubles was spent to hold the race last year, although the prize money was a few times less. Race winner received 350 thousand, second rank got 200 thousand and the third one 120 thousand rubles. Mushers, who finished the race fourth and fifth, were paid 60 and 40 thousand rubles, respectively. Other racers received 30,000 each.