Hello to you all !
First of all some good news for latecomers there are still a few places on the 15th MDS; don't hesitate to contact us. So there'll be near enough 700 of you at the start of the next edition of MDS. It's really heart-warming to know that such a large number of people put their trust in us and after all these years of work, it's great to see the extent to which the reputation of our race has spread over the world. For all the competitors, it's not a question of it being just one more race : it's never by chance that people enroll on MDS. More often it's the fruit of years of physical and even psychological preparation and for many, it's about making a dream come to life. Because we understand and care about this dream, we redouble our efforts so that the reality corresponds at the very least to your hopes and expectations. Nothing is more satisfying for us than to see you leave with a smile on your face after a week spent together. The MDS is an out-of-the-ordinary race because its hard, but also because it produces such intense sensations. Everyone who has run it remembers it forever. For the year 2000 edition, many of you are taking obvious pride in coming back; sometimes after a 10-year absence. We're counting on making this edition memorable and will then have the pleasure of seeing you again ; and if possible before 2010... As before, a "MARATHON DES SABLES Special" will be in place to enable families, friends and sponsors to be at the finish line of the marathon stage as well as that of the last stage. You'll find all the necessary information in this Sahara News. This 15th anniversary will be suitably celebrated with the usual enthusiasm of all the Atlantide Organisation Internationale team who are equally impatient to get going. We wish you good health, happiness and prosperity for the year 2000 and in the meantime keep up the training and go easy on the Christmas spirit !
Merry Christmas to you all.
We'll be in touch soon.
ATLANTIDE ORGANISATION Internationale

PROGRAMME FOR "SPECIAL MARATHON DES SABLES" TRIP
from THURSDAY 13 TO MONDAY 17 APRIL 2000 :
THURSDAY 13 APRIL Flight Paris/Ouarzazate, dinner and night in hotel ****
FRIDAY 14 APRIL Petit dÚjeuner. Leave for MARATHON DES SABLES. Desert discovery day. Picnic. Meeting with competitors at end of the day's leg. Dinner and night at bivouac.
SATURDAY 15 APRIL Breakfast in bivouac then trailing of final leg of MARATHON DES SABLES, lunch, transfer. Dinner and night in hotel.
SUNDAY 16 APRIL Breakfast at hotel, free-time, lunch not provided. Late afternoon - prize-giving, Gala dinner. Night in hotel.
MONDAY 17 APRIL Breakfast in hotel. Transfer to airport and flightfor Paris.
Cost of trip : 7 650 FF (accommodation in double room)

Contact :
TERRES DÍAVENTURES agency , Eric
6 rue St Victor - 75005 PARIS France
Phone : 01 53 73 77 77
Fax : 01 43 29 96 31

MEDICAL FILE AND ELECTROCARDIOGRAMME
Some of you have already sent us one or the other, even both of these medical documents. We can't take them into account as they must be presented in Morocco during the day of technical checks. What's more, we remind you that to be valid these certificates must be dated the month preceding the start of the race (See ART 25 of race regulations). You'll therefore have to have another medical check and electrocardiogramme done if you've made this mistake. .

CORINNE and MARIE
Corinne may be Marie's (the lady in charge of competitors) sister but the Marie who is going to be running is not Corinne's sister. However, even if there are plenty of sisters amongst nurses, Corinne KICK (F) and Marie EVEN(F) are members of no congregation. What they do have in common is to have been part of the MDS medical team and to have enrolled in the year 2000 edition. Oh yes, and Corinne will be running with her husband Jean-Claude who's coming with his sister Brigitte who isn't a nurse..

TEAMS FOUCHTRA !
The "RAID CLERMONTOIS" team is made up of friends who are mad about adventure sports. J.M. VIGUIE(F), D. PETREAIS (F) and E. LANCHE(F) are leaving their beautiful region of Auvergne behind and though they know and love its hills, they can't wait to discover the jebels in Morocco. The climate risks being a bit different...

A gutsy lady
Teaching biology and geology is not enough for her. This young woman is madabout sport and has a soft spot for the MDS and the kind of contact she has with people there. P. MARTIN(F) came in 3rd last year in the women's ranking, and will be back for the 15th edition: the smiling embodiment of a sound spirit in a healthy body.

Guard turn out!
Many members of the police force from over the world have already run the MDS, but it's the first time we've seen one of the Prince's guards. All things being equal J.C AGOSTA (F) will not be in uniform: it's a well known fact in Monaco that when you leave the Rock, you go into plain clothes.

MR MOUNTAIN ?
No, Jean is still called VALLON, but from now on he's president of the association "Sport Nature Haute Montagne ", and some of its members will be by his side on the 15th MDS. Long live SNHM and long live the President!

BIG EARS
M. DE LA FUENTE(F), L. MAZZUCHA(F) and M.BOUTARFA (F) will be all ears for words of precious advice from their team-mate C. LEMERY (F-11th in 90). Together they make up the "FENNECS ASSOCIES" who are a rare species that only runs on its back legs...

"EXTREME 16"
You can live in the Charente region of France, be fond of Cognac and good food and yet not be a stay-at-home. P. LARONZE(F), F.GUERINEAUX(F), J.M.BRECHET(F) and J.P. TOURVIEILLE de LABROUHE(F) intend to be living proof of it. More to follow soon ...
More to follow soon ...