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EDITO
As we told you in the last SAHARA NEWS, a number of aid projects
are starting to take shape especially one bringing water
to a group of nomads in south Morocco. Over the next few
months, a 30 metre deep well-shaft will be dug then equipped
with a solar powered pumping system and a small water tower.
A watering hole for livestock will also be supplied, but
far enough away from the site so that the herds can drink
without polluting the well with their waste. Competitors
will be able to see this photovoltaic station up and running,
since it will be on the route of the 21st MARATHON DES SABLES.
Via another photovoltaic installation, a whole village will
have water brought to their homes. And the work won’t
stop there … For France and throughout the 21st MDS,
AOI has decided to join forces with MEUPHINE (an association
working for disabled children) as part of the 1 BOUCHON =
1 SOURIRE (1 bottle top = a smile) operation. Basically we
have to collect around 70,000 bottle tops during the race.
The association will then raise money via the recycled plastic.
As well as the fund-raising aspect, it’s about changing
the way we think about disability.
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In addition to this
good news, the high number of enrolments for
2006 look like making for a superb edition this
year. What
we’ve seen on our reconnaissance trips is also inspiring… the
route should be fantastic with breathtaking landscapes. As
for the surprises, well you can count on the imagination of
the race director and his team to come up with a few memorable
moments. Just be patient… And finally, the online boutique
www.darbaroud-boutik.com is up and running.
You can now get a whole range of MARATHON DES SABLES products (book, DVD, buff,
tee-shirt,..). DARBAROUD will also be bringing out a line of special « course »clothes
and accessories and who knows perhaps one day the perfect equipment for the “Marathonien
DES SABLES” ...
The whole AOI team would like to wish you a very happy new year. We hope with
all our hearts that world peace goes to the top of the political agenda and that
the whole planet realises the need for solidarity between peoples.
We’ll be in touch soon
AOI
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A
new online boutique of MARATHON DES SABLES
products was opened in
December 2005.On DARBAROUD-boutik you’ll
find
the MDS book, DVD, clothes and accessories ...
DARBAROUD-boutik will gradually enrich its
catalogue with new products
such as cap, parka, multi-pocketed jacket… plus a few
course specials.
Perhaps one day you’ll be able
to find the perfect equipment for the
SABLES marathon runner!
www.darbaroud-boutik.com
Orders are made online using credit
card or cheque. |
MARATHON
DE ZAGORA (Morocco)
- LE 19 FEVRIER 2006
For the second year running, Mohamad and Lahcen AHANSAL are
inviting runners to join in the MARATHON DE ZAGORA. The route
consists of 5 km on road and 37 km on desert track. It crosses
sandy zones, small mountains, dried out wadis and the Zagora
palm-grove.
The SEMI MARATHON is also open to walkers who’ll all
be accompanied by a dromedary.
Entry fees : 50DH (5 euros) per participant.
Accommodation available: hotel****, riad, B&B and even
in nomad tents.
If you’re in the area or want to take part in this great
sporting day, don’t hesitate to contact :
ahansaltrekking@yahoo.fr
18 FEBRUARY
2006 : Porte de Zagora
08H00 : distribution of race numbers
at the marathon Kasbah
15H00 : Start for the women’s 5
kms – Start/finish at Porte de
Zagora
19 FEVRIER 2006 : Porte de Zagora
08H00 : start of SEMI MARATHON (21 kms)
and MARATHON (42 kms)
Start/finish Porte de Zagora – refreshments
every 5 kms.
11H00 : arrival of first runner (record
02H46)
16H00 : awards ceremony - Folk evening
in the Vallée du Draa
Recap of 2005 edition
249 classed out of 292 participants
(Morocco, France, Germany, Holland,
USA).
Record to beat 02H46
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1
BOUCHON = 1 SOURIRE
Pour le
21e MARATHON DES
SABLES,
AOI propose aux coureurs et au staff d’encadrement
de participer à l'opération :
1 BOUCHON = 1 SOURIRE. |
We have to collect 70,000 bottle tops during
the course and the recycled plastic will allow
the association (working for disabled children)
to raise money. In addition to the fund-raising,
the aim is to change the way people think about
disabilities. Recycling bottle tops is also of
benefit to the environment.
WE COLLECT
With a bit of effort it’s possible to
collect the vast majority of water-bottle tops
provided by the organisation. Special collection
boxes (clearly signalled) will be available
both at checkpoints and on the bivouac.
WE RECYCLE
Once collected, the bottle tops will be sent
to France where they’ll be ground down
and made into granules to make an variety
of plastic objects (buckets, pallets, tool
handles and so on).
WE SAVE ENERGY.
1 ton of recycled granulate saves 30 tons of
crude oil. In 2004, thanks to collections
held in schools, children collected enough
to produce 2,000 tons of recycled plastic
thereby saving 60,000 tons of crude oil.
WE
SHOW SOLIDARITY
The recycling company gives 125 euros per ton
of granulate to disability associations with
whom it has signed agreements.
In 2004, the various 1 BOUCHON = 1 SOURIRE
operations raised more than 200,000 euros for
these associations.
For more informations : www.1bouchon1sourire.org |
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COMPETITION
- TROPHY 2007
ATLANTIDE ORGANISATION is organising a major competition to design
and produce the 2007 trophies for the 22nd MARATHON DES SABLES.
So if you have a creative streak or if you know someone who does,
just contact AOI to obtain details (budget, deadline, quantity
etc) then present your project. The winner will be chosen by a
jury on the basis of the artistic and inspirational merits of the
work.
Contact AOI by email : aoi@darbaroud.com
AN EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW
Around 700 people from 35 countries, from all social backgrounds,
speaking more than 20 languages and of many different creeds came
together for a week during the MDS 2005. These women and men aged
between 16 and 71 have very different sporting levels but are all
equal at the start of the race and show exemplary solidarity.
TEAM
ENROLMENTS
No team can be enrolled once in Morocco. The exact
name of the team and its members must be indicated
on the personal information sheet and the sheet
for the press. Team names must be quite short
to ensure they can be correctly read on computer
listings.
MARATHON DES SABLES WEEK END
from 13 to 17 April 2006 As usual, families, friends
and sponsors can come to the finish line of the
last two stages of MDS. For more information
and details contact:
TERRES D’AVENTURE - Lucie ROULLIER
Tel : 01 53 73 77 68 Fax : 01 43 29 96 31
email : l.roullier@terredav.com
6 rue Saint-Victor -75005 Paris
TEAM RUNNING
The TRIO 203 : Beware ! This is probably the most
experienced team on the 21st edition of MDS.
Dietrich KOHLER (CH), Jean VALLON (F) and Jean
ACCOYER (F) have 203 years of experience and
more than 20 MDS’ between them. Their main
motivation is to enjoy themselves.
LORANS SALOMON TEAM : Three of these runners
have already made their mark on MDS. Last year
Samuel
BONAUDO (F) came in 4th, David PASQUIO (F) 6th
and Thierry ARNIER (F) 16th. They’re joined
by Thomas VERICEL(F) whose trail-running performance
in France suggests he’ll do rather well on
MDS. It promises to be a close-run competition
both on individual and team level !
POMPIERS DE LA LOIRE : this team of firemen from
St Etienne, made up of Lionel TRIVEL (F), Julien
MARTEL (F) and Tony DAURELLE (F), are linking sporting
prowess with humanitarian aid. They’ll be
bringing over school equipment for the Moroccan
village of Achbarou in a fire ambulance.
GTR : the company has decided to support five competitors
and to finance the aid project described in the
Edito. It goes without saying that P. RIVAUD(F),
Patrick GUENOLE (F), Lionel PETIT (F), Benoit LOUAULT
(F) and Jean-Pascal FOUQUET (F) will be delighted
to see their efforts rewarded when they run past
the solar pump.
CPM : 5 of this group of 9 participated in MDS
last year. 8 are from France: Edwige BARRE, Maud
BERGER, Bruno HIRTZ, Jean-Philippe LAFAURY, Laurent
and Vincent MARTIN-DUPRAY, Dominique QUEMARD, Olivier
GRAND VALLET; one from Switzerland: Rebecca GATZI.
GIPSPORT AVENTURE : Pascal JUGIE (F), Bruno HAMMEL
(F), Christophe DAUDOU (F), Didier CUMENAL (F),
Serge COUTILLAS (F) and Jean- Jacques VANDOORSSELAERE
(F) are coming from the Périgord region
for the simple pleasure of running as much as for
the sporting challenge.
LES SAPEURS DE MARINE D'ANGERS : For his 6th time
on MDS, André RABALLAND (F) is back with
two other soldiers Candice BARBE (F) and Christophe
BONNIN (F). They’ll be sporting the colours
of the « 6e Régiment du Génie » with
pride.
LEGENDRE BRETAGNE 3 : Jean-Paul LEGENDRE (F) is
running with his wife Joëlle and brother in
law Eric MICAULT (F). As manager of a public works
company he doesn’t just share his passion
for running with his family, because he’s
also bringing along a team of running specialists
and another team of friends. They’re all
joining forces in the fight against cystic fibrosis.
LEGENDRE BRETAGNE 1 : They’ve made it to
the podium several times, this year they’re
aiming to stay there and why not up make it to
the highest step. Albert VALLEE (F) is participating
for the 6th time alongside Patrice BALARD (F),
André SICOT (F) and Denis CAILLIBOT (F)
who’ve all performed well in the past. We
can expect them in the top 10.
LEGENDRE BRETAGNE 2 : One of the members of this
team is more used to football pitches then desert
sands but his qualities as an athlete should allow
him to rise to the challenge. Paul LE GUEN (F)
is running with Thierry DANJOU(F) participant in
2002, Christian JUBIN (F) and Jean-Marc TRIHAN
(F).
LES 3 B DU 95 : these 3 B’s - Black, Blanc,
Beur (meaning black, white, Arab) are from the
Paris region are called Hakim MEZIANE (F), Jean-Marc
RIGAL (F) and Franck GUY (F).
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