In the current
climate it's difficult not to be worried about the international
situation. But rather than trying to find out who is lying
the most, we have to hope that reason will win the day and
the most vindictive of all these charming leaders puts the
human beings they're responsible for ahead of their own glory
or bank balances.
In such circumstances, ATLANTIDE ORGANISATION Internationale
is even happier than usual to be bringing together men and
women from all walks of life, because it's by venturing towards
others that peoples learn to know themselves better and to
respect one another. When you find yourself faced with the
immensity of the elements all around, you get a better idea
of the human scale and from there comes humility and tolerance.
In a sporting event like the MARATHON DES SABLES, the greatest
victory is above all that of winning the battle against oneself.
In the desert, like all places where nature dominates, you've
got to get yourself in harmony with the environment first
of all. Battling against the wind, sun and sand only increases
the difficulty. Nothing goes off exactly as planned when you're
in the elements and you must continually re-evaluate your
physical capacities of the moment. That seems obvious but
easier said than done since the daily life of most participants
is leagues away from these eight days on the communal bivouac.
More than 600 participants will be there on the 4 April in
Morocco for the 18th MARATHON DES SABLES where you'll need
to know how to pace yourself well in order to finish.
For the DESERT CUP 2003, this non-stop race will be taking
place in November as usual. Patrick Bauer and our various
teams are currently on reconnaissance of various locations
and the country chosen will be revealed in the March edition
of the Sahara News. Until then: hang on to your enthusiasm
for adventure races and be patient.
See you soon.
AOI
TIMING MARATHON DES SABLES
Next edition 04 - 14 april 2003
TELECOMMUNICATIONS Don't forget to tell your
families, friends and sponsors that they will be able to leave
you messages directly on our site but only from 05 to 11 April
2003 :
http://www.darbaroud.com
in the special section "write to competitors" Only messages containing the name, first name and competitor's
ID n° will be handed on. Do not send any attachments (e.g.
photo) - this will cancel the message. After 11 April, this service will no longer be
available for emails.
Other services on
the bivouac : 6-unit
telephone card at 40 euros. One unit corresponds to 1 minute of phone
communication or sending an email. Payment in euros, US$ or Dihrams,
or by credit card VISACARD and MASTERCARD only. Communication is made
exclusively through satellite phone.
PLANE TIMES Several planes are chartered for
the 18th MDS operation. AOI does not yet know the times of these special
flights. All competitors enrolled will be sent details of their flight
transfer times by post in mid-March. However, you should allow for
an early departure on 04 April from ROISSY CHARLES DE GAULLE airport.
For those enrolled with our AOI representatives abroad, please contact
them directly for flight information.
ANTI DOPING TEST
The fight
against doping
is of vital importance for everyone's
well-being..
In line with International
Athletics Federation (IAAF) norms, tests for doping will be
carried out this year. As a result, each competitor taking medication
will have to provide details of his/her treatment and the relevant
prescription. For competitors registered with a national federation,
the results will be transmitted to national and international
authorities with possible sanctions if the candidate tests positive.
In the event of a competitor testing positive the MARATHON DES
SABLES anti-doping commission will make all decisions ranging
from warning to immediate disqualification according to the
severity of the "products" found to have been used.
Once again Robert
MOLEDA (F) will be with us 05 to 12 April to capture your
finest moments on film. Working exclusively for the competitors,
he'll be taking photos of every participant. You'll receive
an order form and the photos early May. Remember to keep
your numbers and sponsors' logos clearly on show.
MEDICAL FILE The obligatory medical
certificate and electrocardiogram must be dated the month of
March.
Imperative: the medical certificate to be completed is the one
in the registration file sent by AOI. Remember that failure
to bring both documents on 05th april to Morocco will prevent
you from beginning the race.
Specialists in supplying medical assistance
on hostile terrain, the DOC TROTTER team, consisting of 31 doctors
and nurses, will look after the health of the participants.
They are no stranger to blisters and all the other aches and
pains familiar to runners and they should be consulted as quickly
as possible to avoid any injuries becoming more serious.
TIMING DC
Next edition : novembre 2003
(8 days, dates to be confirmed next Sahara News)
Information packs will be sent in
April and
enrolments will be open until
July/august 2003.
ATLANTIDE ORGANISATION Internationale
BP 98 - 10003 TROYES Cedex - FRANCE
Tél. : (33) 03 25 76 57 77 / Fax : (33) 03 25 76 87
75
E-Mail : aoi@darbaroud.com
- WEB : http://www.darbaroud.com
Sahara News n° 63 réalisé par CIMBALY International
Pépé et Marie - Webmaster : Cimbaly
FOREIGN REPRESENTATIVES Austria, Germany and
Suisse German
56 competitors (Germany, Austria, German-speaking Switzerland,
Hungary, Albania...) are coming via Anke Molkhentin
: representative of our German office. USA, China &
South AFrica
More than 51 competitors (Korea, USA, Australia, India,...)
will be part of the delegation enrolled with our US
office. Japan
9 will be coming from Japan including 7 men. Ever enthusiastic
about the desert, they will most likely be their usual
determined selves.
ADVICE A little trip to a
chiropodists could well help to avoid many a misery
during the course. Blisters and nails will suffer so
a preventative treatment can really help.
WHAT A TROOPER ! D. BENGUIGUI (F) is
losing his sight. In order to make the public more aware
of the diseases which affect a million and a half people
in France, he'll be running for RETINA France (08 10
30 20 50). One of MDS' most experienced runners M. BACH
(F) will be accompanying him.
CLEAN DESERT Along with our environment
team, AOI will once again this year be using the services
of an incinerator lorry to destroy all the rubbish.
It's an total auto-combustion oven, capable of burning
organic matter but also plastic and light metals.
REMINDER It is inconceivable
to find energy product wrappers on adventure race routes.
And yet it so often happens on many courses. So remember
that on MDS the race rules attribute penalties to polluters
and this can even extend to elimination (Art. 27 and
28). The stewards won't let one go by !
FORBIDDEN Gas bottles are not
allowed on planes. Not only will competitors be deprived
of hot meals should the bottle be confiscated by the
authorities, but he/she will be putting the lives of
others in danger. There is also the risk of explosion
when the rubbish is incinerated. So no gas bottles.
Thanks !
TEAM RACING Team Austria
: here is a team of young Austrians made up of 2 students
: Ingrid FANGL and M. ROSSMANN and joined by L. HARALD.
Above all they hope to feel new emotions. Exxonmobil Runners
: this team of experienced
runners will benefit from advice from S. HEMARD (F)
who's running his 4th MDS. For T. DARRET (F) P. DESPRES
and B. JUIGNET (F). Their main motivation is to experience
the human and sporting adventure. Pompier Raid Aventure
: even though C. ALLEN
(F) is not a fireman, he is happy to throw his weight
in behind the firefighters. As for them, L. TISON (F),
M. DERACHE (F) and S. LEQUEUX (F) are happy to be participating
in a course in the best ecological conditions possible.
Marseille Des Sables
: for them it'll be
the realisation of a long-term project. This time they're
ready and C. CHOSSEGROS (F), L. SYLVESTRE (F), G. ISOARD
(F), S. HADJIAN (F) and J. ROMI MARTINEZ (F) hope to
make home town Marseille's image really stand out. Legendre Ultra Run Breizh
: A solid team that
is most probably aiming for a place on the podium. G.
RACINNE (F) and P. NEVEUX (F), who finished in 3rd place
in 2001's rankings, will be joining up with A. VALLEE
(F) who was 7th in MDS and 3rd in the DESERT CUP last
year. Courons Pour La Vie: P. DUBOIS (F), P.
CUEFF (F), G. HABASQUE (F), G. CHERREL (F) and J. BELLEC
(F) are running to raise awareness for organ and blood
donors. They don't want money but promises of life from
potential donors.
MARATHON DES SABLES WEEK END from 10 to 14 April 2003 As in previous years,
families, friends and sponsors can come along to the
finish line during the last 2 stages of MDS. For information and details,
contact :
TERRES D'AVENTURE
Charles POLIDORI
Tel : 01 53 73 76 76
email: c.polidori@terdav.com
