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MALI
29th november to 6th december 2003
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EDITO

Malian’s village

It's time to end the suspense over where the DESERT CUP 2003 will be held. ATLANTIDE ORGANISATION Internationale has opted for MALI. This West African country has all the specific characteristics to host the DESERT CUP : sandy, mountainous areas and with the magnificent red sands of the savannah. The way the people and the authorities have welcomed us so far suggests they'll be enthusiastic about participating in the adventure. Expect entertainment as only Africa knows how. Music and traditional dance will echo competitors' footsteps leaving us all with an exceptional souvenir. So here's to meeting up at the end of November for a new adventure in a country that's only too happy to host such an event.
4 April is looming large and the countdown to the start of the race always finds participants in the MARATHON DES SABLES feeling a little nervous. It is therefore the moment to devote a bit of time to leisure - arriving stressed is never a good idea. The week before the course must be spent above all on relaxation so you arrive fresh for D-Day. That's all part of the training programme.
Around 650 competitors from around 30 nations will be present for this 18th MDS which promises to be exciting due to the quality of the participants and the difficulty of the course.
As for the ATLANTIDE ORGANISATION International team we're all delighted to be welcoming so many competitors and putting everything in place to make this edition be a great success.

See you very soon
AOI

WATER FOR THE DESERT
For the 6th time the initiative of Gilles FLAMANT will see a solar pump installed during the MDS allowing a little village to get water more easily. AOI is associated with this operation and sees to transport amongst other things, but we must above all thank all the donors and particularly Michel BACH (F), one of the loyal MDS runners, and the company BATIBOIS which has not only enrolled a team but kept the promise made last year to generously participate in the purchase of this pump.
more informations : http://bleu-sable.imp.cnrs.fr/

TIMING MARATHON DES SABLES

Next edition 04 - 14 april 2003

CHECKPOINTS
Competitors must go through all checkpoints; failure resulting in penalties (see Art.27 and 28). The checkpoints are : beginning of each stage (at water distribution point),checkpoints during the stage, end of stage (at water distribution point).
SURVIVAL KIT
New distress flares will be handed out to competitors. They weigh 360g, and are very effective. Add to 14g of salt.


MARATHON DES SABLES PROGRAM
“special competitor”
3 charter flights have been reserved from Paris
04 april 2003
• The time at which you must be at ROISSY CHARLES DE GAULLE airport will be communicated to you by post.
You will then be told which desk to go to for your flight. In case of a possible change of terminal by ROYAL AIR MAROC, please be on time to ensure this change can be accommodated at the last minute.
• You must have a valid passport and your luggage with you
• Handing out of tickets at the appropriate desk
• Weighing of luggage: 20 Kgs maximum per person
• Handing-out of road-book. Arrival at OUARZAZATE
Those not taking the plane with AOI must be at Ouarzazate airport at 10h00 (10.00 am).
• Immediate transfer from Ouarzazate to bivouac (340 km - 5 hours),
lunch-packe ; Arrival at 1st bivouac, dinner and night at bivouac

05 april 2003

• Breakfast at bivouac ; administrative, technical and medical checks.
Following checks: free day, lunch and dinner at bivouac.

06 to 12 april 2003

THE RACE
• Beginning of self sufficiency in food: from breakfast 06 April breakfast to breakfast 12 April.

12 april 2003

END OF THE RACE
• Bus transfer to hotel in Ouarzazate , lunch paquet; collecting of personal affaires, dinner and night at hotel (1/2 pension)

13 april 2003

• Breakfast at hotel.
• 10H00 to 17H00 - distribution of Tee-shirt MDS - MARATHON DES SABLES shop to Hotel Bélère
• Free time, lunch not provided ;
• 17H00 prize giving ceremony - coktail Hotel Bélère
• Dinner and night at hotel (1/2 pension)

14 april 2003

• Breakfast at hotel. Free time the morning, lunch not provided
•Transfer in from hotel to Ouarzazate airport. Departure flight
Arrival Paris (see your flight ticket).


GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
It is with deep sadness that AOI has just learned of the death of one of MDS' true characters. Cedric O'GRANT (US) was the official representative for Switzerland and Luxembourg for both MARATHON DES SABLES and the DESERT CUP. All those that knew him will remember his extreme kindness and smiling good nature whatever the circumstances.


TIMING DC

Next edition : novembre 2003


Next edition in MALI
(8 days, dates to be confirmed next Sahara News)
Information packs will be sent in
April/may and enrolments will be
open until september 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° 64 realized by CIMBALY International
Pépé et Marie - Webmaster : Cimbaly



Participants
More than 650 participants are lined up this year, with 69 women and no less than 46 official teams. For the 18th edition, 29 nationalities will be present (Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Luxembourg, Morocco, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, USA.

Ranking on internet
The rankings available on our internet site will be provisional. They'll be shown as and when the results come in, so will not be exhaustive straightaway. If a name does not appear it may be that the runner is not yet ranked or that he/she has not yet arrived. The particular conditions in the desert slow down the treatment of information; you should therefore not worry and consult the update on the site at a later date.
N.B. : 2 hour time difference between Morocco and France

REPRESENTATIVES ABROAD
UNITED KINGDOM, ISRAEL, IRELAND
With more than 200 competitors from the UK, it's the biggest foreign delegation on the 18th MDS. We can count on them to give their very best whilst taking the time to appreciate the scenery.
ITALY
There'll be 40 loyal Italian runners on the starting
blocks. Some are capable of putting up a serious challenge in several categories.
MOROCCO
There are 13 in the Moroccan delegation including several top runners. Being both good athletes and used to the heat, they regard it a matter of honour to give of their very best right up to the end.
SPAIN
Spain enrolled a little late, so there are only 11. They're always very enthusiastic and we can count on them to liven up the atmosphere nonetheless.

Team enrolments
Batibois : Patricia BONNNEAU (F) will be running alongside C HAGENSTEIN (F), T. BORGETTO (F) and H. CLAUSER (F) proudly brandishing the colours of this Alsatian company.
Terres d'Aventure : linked to the race for many years through the MDS weekend, the travel agency has a team running in its name. Cécile CROZATIER (F), Michèle PREVIDI-PRIOUL (F), O. IDOUISSAADEN (M) and M. MOINE (F) are experienced walkers who will undoubtedly pace the competition wisely.
Jogging International : with B. LAVAL (F) at the helm, this team has a famous leader. A specialist in trail running with an impressive track record, he'll be accompanied by Marielle COUDERT (F) who also has several victories under her belt. C. BRAMAT (F) and F. MORAND (F) are not at such a high level but they're no less keen.
Eurosport : an MDS partner for many years, the European sports channel will be represented by Anke MOLKENTHIN (GER) and P. ZUBANI (I) (in charge of the German and Italian offices) and by C. GINTER (F) who'll be running his 15th MDS. Between the three of them they clock up almost 40 MDS...
Gemma : This Italian-Moroccan team will be the one to beat par excellence. with the Moroccans Mohamed and Lhacen AHANSAL (6 victories between them) and M. GOZZANO from Italy who's been in the top 5 several times, we'll be expecting to see them on the highest step of the podium. Then again in foot races nothing is ever completely sure ...
CTM : the team of the Moroccan Transport Company will unite talented Moroccan runners including M. AIT AMAR (3rd in 2001). With J. LHACEN and A. ZAID weshould see the team up there amongst the winners.
Scholl/Les Elles du Désert : Sylvie CADIERNO (F), Isabelle DEFFEZ (F) and Brigitte POTTIN make up this 100% feminine team. They already did well in the 2002 edition..

Other teams lined up
Victoria : Laura CORTI (I), Silvana LATTANZIO (I) and P. LOCATELLI (I)
Team Rafael : S. LOLLI (I), M. VOLA(I), F. QUAGLINO(I), G. CULASSO(I), A. MAFFUCI(I) and F. HARDOUIN MONRO(I).
Blowing in the wind : S. CATANIA(I), S. MUSAZZI(I), A. PRATI(I) and G.P. FUMAGALLI(I).
Save The Rhino : Cathy DEAN(GB), Rachael BARBER(GB), K. DONALDSON(GB), C. SHORT(GB), M. WEBB(GB), P. FRANKLIN(GB), R. JENNER(GB) and D. JERLING (GB).
Three Degrees : Vanessa JACKSON(GB), Andrew JACKSON(GB) and C.P. PAGET(GB). ARCC : K. BORTON(GB), T. BROWN(GB), D. WALTON(GB), W. SMILE(GB)Y, T. HARDGREAVE(GB) and M. ROYDE(GB).
Coco : G. JACKETS(GB), E. CHAPMAN(GB) and R. TANNER(GB).
PSP : R. KOE(GB), B. MARTIN(GB) and W. EAGLESTONE(GB).
29 REGT RLC : Tracy ROSS(GB), Laura KILBY(GB), S. POTTER(GB) and R.LUNDIE(GB)
Desert Thistles : G. FRIZELL(GB), F. M. RAIT(GB) and P. BOYD(GB)
British Gurkhas Bruney : A. JONES(GB), I. LYLE(GB) and C. BORYER(GB).
Dust Munchers : D. MINDEN(GB), A. EADE(GB) and S. BOSWELL(GB).
Virgin Atlantic Airways : T. MURPHY(GB), S. ASHBY(GB) and D. BYRNE(GB). Le Dahu: X. CLERGERIE (F), E. MOTTE (F), F. CRESCI (F) and P. AUDIBERT (F). Foulées Vertes: K. SASSE(F), J. PROUX(F) and D. NUGRE(F)

Medical certificate and electrocardiogram
They must be dated later than 5 March.

Imperative : medical certificate to be completed is the one in the registration file sent to you by AOI. Do not forget them on 5 April in Morocco; failure will mean you cannot compete in the race.

EMAIL
Family, friends and sponsors can send messages directly to competitors via the organisation’s official site, but only from 05 to 11 April 2003. Only text can be sent. Photos will not get through and trying to send them will cancel the message written in the section “write to competitors”
http://www.darbaroud.com
After 11 April, the email sending service will no longer function.