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| 22th MDS - Race presentation |
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Race director
edito :
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We still remember the five days of non-stop
windstorm that shook our caravan during the
17th MARATHON DES SABLES. Some thought we’d
never relive such difficult weather conditions
again! And yet four years later, runners
and organisers endured far worse with the
2006 edition. Day after day, the heat and
sandstorms, along with an unusually high
hygrometry levels, meant a record number
of 146 competitors pulled out! When Mother
Nature hands out a warning to humans trying
to defy her, you scarcely need a metaphysics
manual to understand mankind’s place in the universe. |
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In
such moments, the word “pacing” takes
on true significance and importance. We strongly
advise people undertake MDS with solid preparation
behind them, but knowing your limits is also
vital in affronting this kind of exceptional
situation in the best possible conditions.
I want to congratulate the 585 Marathon Des
Sables runners from all over the world who
crossed the finish line after an extraordinary
Saharan epic. Among the competitors, a special
mention has to go to Lhacen AHANSAL who, despite
the weather and increasingly tough competition,
once more proved his talent as an exceptional
runner. We should also note that in the women’s
race, and in the team race, every year there
are thrilling confrontations and the competition
is often hot right up to the finish.
That said, whether you run or walk MDS, it remains a
great school where solidarity reaches the level of fraternity
and heightened emotion provides the most wonderful of
rewards.
I would like to thank all the volunteers and partners
for their support and offer my sincere thanks to His
Majesty King Mohammed VI for opening the doors of Morocco
so wide. We look forward to seeing you on Planet Desert
for a 22nd edition whose history will again be written
by all the participants. |
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MEDIAS
All the world's TV channels
have access to MARATHON DES SABLES images
Whether
live, thanks to our satellite image station,
or pre-recorded for the longer reports, all
the world's TV channels have access to MARATHON
DES SABLES images.
Many journalists from print, radio and audio-visual media
come each year to cover the event. At the end of each
stage, computers, fax machines and satellite phones work
flat out to ensure, amongst other things, that daily
press releases are sent to the major international press
agencies.
In addition to these means of information there is the
darbaroud.com internet service which allows families,
friends and sponsors to follow the race each day and
exchange messages with participants. |
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ECOLOGIE
AND SOLIDARITY
Associations and companies joined forces to bring precious
support to people in the south of Morocco.
The MARATHON DES SABLES also offers the opportunity to
show one’s generosity. Since 1995, AOI has coordinated
and brought to fruition nine projects using renewable
energies.
Once again, for the 21st edition of MDS, associations
and companies joined forces to bring precious support
to people
in the south of Morocco. Thanks to the enthusiasm of
GTR, a well-shaft was drilled and photovoltaic pumping
station installed in EL MAHARCH pass. This highly-frequented
point now has a water tower and fountain providing water
to inhabitants and nomads in the region. The pump also
services a watering point where animals can drink some
distance away from the well-shaft.
In addition, the charity DROIT AU COEUR, presided by
Michel BACH, enabled a solar pump to be installed in
the village of MIRZANE. Linked to 4 fountains, 100 m
apart, the pump provides more than 500 people with water.
The 2 stations were installed by students at the Technical
High School of AMBERIEU en BUGEY as part of activities
co-ordinated by the charity EAUSOLEIL.
These kind of development projects allow women, generally
the ones burdened with having to find water, to have
more time for other, potentially more lucrative, activities
(literacy, arts and crafts etc.). As a result, the place
of women in society is improved.
Concerning the environment, the MARATHON DES SABLES regulations
are very clear, reminding everyone that no bottles or
rubbish must be left on the route. For several years,
AOI has been using two companies to clean its bivouacs.
One collects and sorts the rubbish, the other burns it
thanks to a unique autocombustion incinerator. |
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IN
FACTS
• 100
volunteers on the course
itself
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400 support staff overall
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100 000 litres of bottled
water
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150 berber and saharan
tents
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100 all-terrain vehicles
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1 "Ecureuil" helicopter
and 1 "Cesna" plane
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3 mountain bike
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6 "MDS special" commercial
planes
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18 bus
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4 camels
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20 000 litres of diesel,
5 000 litres of petrol,10
000 litres of kerosene
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40 members of medical
team
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5 km of Elastoplast
, 2 700 Compeed, 15
000 compresses
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2 800 pairs of gloves,
2 300 antibiotics,
5 300 painkillers
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125 litres of disinfectant
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1 editing bus, 5 cameras,
1 satellite image station
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6 satellite telephones,
15 computers, fax and
internet
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1 grain of folly,... |
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