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Sahara News
n°82
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EDITO
In so many domains, the certitudes of the past have been replaced by new ones; in their turn these will be replaced by others. In a continually evolving world, nothing is fixed. And if we don’t want to end up like dinosaurs, we constantly have to adapt.

Earth and its inhabitants have been subjected to major changes in climate over the last few million years. The latest change concerns us all..
More than 10,000 years ago, after the last ice age, nature took on the vegetal, mineral and animal forms we know today and humans started to settle. All over the world, tribes settled down, each developing their own different way of life.

Such cultural diversity has become the greatest richness imaginable and the mark of the most genetically-homogenous species ever: Man. What’s more, this richness is multiplied when shared.
So it’s great we are lucky enough to live at a time when the means of communication allows us to meet so easily. It’s never been easier to travel or dialogue. Wherever you live in the world, Morocco, Japan or Iceland, getting in touch takes just a few seconds. We talk, send one another messages, photos, films and music. You can find out, virtually in real time, what is happening 100 metres down the round or 20,000 km away.
There are dangers of course. We can be manipulated and lied to, but lies are hunted down faster than ever. Ignorance is receding in a big way and those trying to build barriers between people will sooner or later run out of arguments. Their days are numbered…

Staying with the theme of evolution, the sportswear firm NEW BALANCE is sponsoring MARATHON DES SABLES for the third consecutive year.
And as part of the partnership, they’re bringing out a MARATHON DES SABLES line of products in February 2007 (back-pack, trainers etc.) The New Balance trademark is synonymous with quality products and the company pays great attention to runners’ needs, providing them with the best-adapted equipment possible.
We'll be in touch soon.
AOI

 

 

 

 
Next edition
from 23th march to
02nd april 2007

REGISTRATION
Due to the large number of registration files received for the 22nd edition of MARATHON DES SABLES, AOI has reached its limit and cannot accept any more candidates. A waiting list will be set up to account for competitors who withdraw or cancel. For more information please contact AOI. Tel : 03 25 76 57 77 or Email aoi@darbaroud.com

CANCELLATION INSURANCE
It is optional and at the discretion of each competitor but once again this year several competitors had to withdraw less than a month before the start of the race. Given the consequences of such last minutes changes, it’s wise to plan ahead (see Art. 26 of race regulations)
 

The official MARATHON DES SABLES shoe has been specially developed for extreme trails and ultra-marathons. It offers excellent shock-resistance and support. Thanks to its integrated gaiter and «Drain & Dry» system allowing it to evacuate water, it is ideal for embarking on the Marathon des Sables adventure.

Weight: 388 gr - Price: 130 euros

Available in stores from January 2007.
List of stockists to follow.
A MAJOR PROJECT
 
To begin with, the older generation in the village will be teaching subjects like embroidery, weaving with thread and cane, and pottery, thereby transmitting local and ancestral knowledge. The training will lead to the development of an artisan workshop employing men and women from the village.
New buildings will house a workshop, office, kitchen, reception and dining room, along with an exhibition hall. And for babies and toddlers up to age of 6 there’ll be two play rooms equipped with showers and toilets run on solar power.
Products will be sold on site and in several boutiques up and down the country. This should be enough to pay the artisans and manage the cooperative.
The project will keep the old savoir-faire alive and provide work for part of the population. It also wants to prepare the future with a range of programmes to be provided by Moroccan women’s associations. They will look at essential themes such as physical movement, hygiene, child-development, basic first aid, family planning and HIV.
Any individuals or associations wanting to help finance this new act of solidarity should email: chvernay@eausoleil.org

 

EAU SOLEIL, AOI
and DROIT AU CŒUR
have joined forces to realise a cooperative project in a village
in South Morocco.
MARATHON DES SABLES TRIP from 29 March to 01 April 2007
Due to the specificity of the rules and the location of the course (food self-sufficiency, desert, security issues…) no accompanying members are allowed on the race. But families, friends and sponsors can be at the finish line of the last 2 stages thanks to a special weekend with a dedicated support team. The trip is organized in parallel with MARATHON DES SABLES (with different flights and hotels from competitors).
For more details : TERRES D’AVENTURE - Lucie ROUILLIER - Phone: 01 53 73 77 68

ATLANTIDE ORGANISATION Internationale
BP 98 - 10003 TROYES Cedex - FRANCE
Phone. : (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° 82 - CIMBALY International
Pépé and Marie - Webmaster : Darbaroud
Desert breeze
 
DESERT CUP

DESERT CUP 2006 cancelled
As you know AOI’s philosophy is to offer competitors a wonderful, sporting adventure without mishap! Not all race organisers necessarily see things in the same way, but we think it is indispensable to have all the logistic, human and especially aerial and medical support to be able to carry out a DESERT CUP worthy of its name. To take an example, we were able to see the effectiveness of such a support system during the last MARATHON DES SABLES where we had to deal with very unusual weather conditions.
At the time of writing, AOI has still not received the guarantees from the Malian government and its institutional partners that would allow us to organise an event with the necessary security measures in place. As we are well aware of the difficulties in organising such a race, AOI refuses to take competitors into a situation where problems could quickly become major, even insurmountable. This is why, after lengthy reflection, the race management team regrets to inform you of its decision to cancel the race despite the prejudice to competitors and the considerable work already undertaken by AOI France and all its representatives abroad. Over the last twenty-two years, AOI has never cancelled a race, whether Malian, Jordanian or Moroccan. This has therefore been a very difficult decision but it is better to analyse and look reality in the face.
Race director
Patrick BAUER.

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT
Following the cancellation of the DESERT CUP, many of you have sent AOI messages of support. All the team wants to thank you for showing solidarity in these delicate circumstances.
MARATHON DES SABLES
THE FILM
The DVD of the 21st MARATHON DES SABLES enables you to relive, along with family and friends, all the emotion of this adventure-filled week. Available on the darbaroud.boutik site, it’s essential viewing for everyone wishing to know more about the course or present it to sponsors.

ITINERARY FOR 2007
Without unveiling the details of the next MDS, we can tell you the route will full of innovation and cross several memorable sites. There’ll be a daily dose of sand and dunes, and breathtaking panoramic views once you’re up the jebels.

THE SAHARA
Just the name makes you dream. Far from the usual clichés that reduce this desert to a sea of sand, the MDS offers you the chance to discover its truly diverse landscapes. Along with 15% dunes, you get palm-groves, small oases, salt-flats with their mirages and oueds where the sand seems to flow between rocks. And then there are hills whose steep slopes provide incredible panoramic views….carpets of greenery and flowers born of occasional rains. There are fields of rocks harbouring fossils. There are just so many things to see in the desert…

SELF-SUFFICIENCY
Managing food and water needs is vital if you want to succeed on MDS, but requires particular attention. Everything matters. Depending on the heat, you have to choose the right textiles, increase your mineral salts (powder, salt tablets), eat as much savoury as sugar and don’t underestimate your daily calorific needs: allow for snacks.

A FAIRER APPROACH
By increasing the weight of the back-pack to 6.5kg minimum in the race regulations, it will help to avoid suspicion and offer more balance between the highest-performing competitors and those with more modest goals ART. 24, 27 and 28).

MORE FLEXIBLE
By considerably reducing the penalties for receiving exceptional extra water rations, the rules now allow people who feel they need a bit more water to have it, without irremediably compromising their performance. (ART. 27 and 28).

HEAVIER PENALTIES
Vital medical assistance (perfusion, plaster cast, etc.) is a medical act without which a competitor could not continue the race. We think it unwise to totally forbid access to this aid by eliminating the competitor, but consider it normal to issue a penalty in line with the degree of assistance offered.(See ART. 17,27 et 28).

MORE SEVERE
The race ID number must be worn as high as possible on the chest depending on your back-back and accessories. The lower part of the ID number MUST NOT be hidden under your belt. If it is not entirely visible, penalties will be issued. This could lead to elimination from the race. (ART. 8, 27 and 28).
Daily checks will be carried out at the start of the race, at finish line and at check-points.

TEAM RACING
FONA : For his 4th MDS Gilles COMBE(F) will be accompanied by Nordine ABDELLAOUI(F), Alain DUBOST(F) and Bernard HEROLD(F). They make up an experienced and homogenous team, from Lyon.
DIADIET : Health food can allow you to face up to diabetes and even take up one of the most wonderful sporting challenges. Juliette PILLARD(F), Saïd BEKKA(F), José VINCENT(F), Jacques SEMAIL (F) and Guillaume BERNARD(F) are coming to prove it.
NOVO : A Franco British team, with Valérie PROUST(F), Peter FAIRHURST(GB), Michel VILARET(F), Yves COTTEREAU(F) and Christian SAVIGNY(F).
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