ART. 2 : DEFINITION OF THE COMPETITION

ART. 3 : GENERAL CONDITIONS

ART. 4 : CONDITIONS OF ADMISSION FOR PARTICIPANTS

ART. 5 : CATEGORIES OF PARTICIPANTS

ART. 6 : PROGRAM OF THE RACE

ART. 7 : TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE VERIFICATIONS

ART. 8 : IDENTIFICATION MARKS RESERVED BY THE ORGANISATION

ART. 9 : SPACE RESERVED FOR INDIVIDUAL SPONSORS

ART. 10 : NON-STOP RACE

ART.11 : STARTING ORDER

ART. 12 : CHECK POINTS

ART. 13 : FINISH LINE

ART. 14 : RANKING

ART. 15 : WATER SUPPLY
The organisation is in charge of supplying mineral water to each competitor.
Water is distributed as follows :
- 1.5 litres at the start, at each check-point and at the finish line.
- 1.5 litres or 3 litres at the check-points shown in road-book.
Each participant must see to his/her water needs at the time when water is distributed and cannot obtain any other supply at any time.

ART. 16 : MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
A specially-chosen medical team, specialising in sports, will be present throughout the race using assistance vehicles to cover the route. Members will be posted both at check points and at the finish line and will ensure that any competitors who are suffering from physical or mental exhaustion are taken either to a check-point or to the finish line. The medical team is allowed to remove ID plates and to disqualify any competitor they feel physically unfit to continue the race and/or having received vital medical aid.(See ART. 26 and 27)

ART. 17 : DROPPING OUT
In the event of a competitor dropping out of the race, he/she must inform the organisation as soon as possible and return the ID plates to a race official or check-point.
Loss of security deposit (see ART. 26 and 27).
Options available to participants who wish to withdraw from the race :
- If seriously ill or injured, repatriation to Paris/Europe will be arranged immediately.
- If physically able to go to the nearest check-point, he/she will then be driven as soon as possible (depending on logistics) to the finish line.

ART. 18 : GROUND ASSISTANCE
The organisation reminds all participants that the DESERT CUP 2006 is run in the desert with food self-sufficiency. All outside assistance is strictly prohibited. Any participant who is supplied by other persons during the race will be heavily penalised (see ART. 26 and 27).

ART. 19 : INSURANCE
A policy covering medical assistance and evacuation* is arranged by the organisation.
All competitors take part in the full knowledge of the risks that may be incurred in this kind of competition and release the organisation of all responsibility in the event of collapse or accident.
*Details available upon request

ART. 20 : WEATHER AND TERRAIN CONDITIONS
Average temperature in DECEMBER :
- daytime : 27°C - maximum 40°C
- night-time : 14°C - minimum 10°C
Wind : hot, dry easterly wind called the Harmattan may occur.
The route of approx 160 km covers a wide variety of terrain : rock, laterite and sand.
In the event of sandstorm lowering visibility to zero, competitors must stop in their tracks and wait for instructions by the organisers.
The organisers reserve the right to modify the route and the length of the race as a result of unfavourable weather conditions or regulations in certain areas.

ART. 21 : MARKINGS
Participants in the DESERT CUP 2006 must follow the route as marked by the organisers incurring serious penalty in the event of violation (See ART.27). There will be markers at approximately every 500 meters depending on the terrain. Several natural landmarks will serve as additional points of reference. Illuminated markers will be in place during the night.

ART. 22 : ROAD-BOOK
The road book will provide competitors with information on the distances, type of terrain and the directions to follow between each check-point. The essential points of the race rules, the development of the race and the closing times of check-points will also be included along with a map of the route. Failure to carry the road book during the race will result in a penalty (see ART. 27).
A briefing on the finer points of the race will be held by the organisers in French and in English before the start of the event.

ART. 23 : COMPULSORY EQUIPMENT FOR PARTICIPANTS
Food
Competitors must provide their own food between 05 to 07 December inclusive. They must select the type of food best suited to their personal needs, weather conditions, the weight they wish to carry and type of back-pack. Each competitor must in all circumstances possess a minimum of 2000 calories per day (failure resulting in disqualification), plus a reserve of 2000 K/calories for the race (see ART. 26 and 27). This emergency reserve must be packaged and presented separately so as to be sealed by the organisation. This 2000 K/calories reserve must only be used in the event of absolute necessity, failing which the competitor will be penalised (seer ART. : 26 and 27). Competitors must plan their food needs according to their objective.
Objective n°1 :
Race to be completed in under 24 hours:
2000 + 2000 as security = minimum 4000 K/calories
Objective n°2 :
Race to be completed in under 36 hours:
3000 + 2000 as security = minimum 5000 K/calories
Objective n°3 :
Race to be completed in less than 48 hours:
4000 + 2000 as security = minimum 6000 K/calories
Objective n°4 :
Race to be completed in less than 60 hours:
5000 + 2000 as security = minimum 7000 K/calories

Failure to respect the time objective announced will incur a one hour penalty (See ART. 26 and 27)
Water reserves
The organisation will provide 1 litre of extra water. The competitor will provide the container (two 50 cl strong and hermitic flasks, mineral water bottles not acceptable ). This water reserve will be sealed by the organisation and must only be used in the event of absolute necessity, failing which the competitor will be penalised (seer ART. : 26 and 27)
Compulsory equipment
- backpack or equivalent (best suited to each participant)
- sleeping bag
- wind-breaker
- a mosquito net
- survival blanket
- torch plus light-bulbs and spare batteries
- 10 safety pins
- compass
- lighter
- knife
- antiseptic lotion
- anti-venom pump
- whistle
- signalling mirror
- two 50 cl flasks (water reserve)
Survival kit
A survival kit supplied by the organisation will include the following :
- a distress flare.
- salt tablets
- 2 luminous signal sticks (1 by night)
The kit will be supplied in Mali during technical and administrative formalities. The distress flare must be handed back to the organisation at the end of the event.
Each competitor must provide his/her own equipment for the race (food, survival gear, personal belongings...) and must show it during the technical and administrative formalities in Mali. Failure to do so will incur a penalty (See ART. 26 and 27).

ART. 24 : REGISTRATION, COMMITMENT FEES AND ADMINISTRATIVE OBLIGATIONS
Competitors should enrol in their own country if ATLANTIDE ORGANISATION Internationale has a representative in this country. If the organisation is not represented in your country, you should enrol directly in France.
CATEGORY A: Individual entrant :
The total cost of enrolment is 2300 Euros, departure from Paris (France). Payment must be made by cheque made payable to ATLANTIDE ORGANISATION Internationale. All incomplete reservation files will not be processed. To set up enrolment in the DESERT CUP 2006 applicants must submit the following documents :
1 - Enrolment with reservation before 10th september 2006 (subject to available places):
- by sending a reservation deposit of 900 euros along with complete administrative file,
- balance of entry fees to be paid before 30th october 2006.
2 - Direct enrolment (subject to available places) :
- by sending full payment of entry fees along with complete administrative file.
After 10 September 2006, contact AOI for information on available places.
Since the total number of participants is limited, the organization will definitively enrol only those whose administrative dossiers are complete.
All payments must be made by cheque to the order of ATLANTIDE ORGANISATION Internationale.
3 - Administrative file
- entry form, completed, dated and signed
- additional information form, dated and signed
- the personal objective form
- photocopy of entrant's valid passport indicating date of issue
- 3 passport size photos with entrant's name on the back
- a security deposit cheque of 150 Euros which will only be cashed in the event of penalties.
3 - Medical file dated no earlier than 01st November 2006 :
The organisation’s medical certificate (attached) is to be stamped by a doctor (preferably one specialising in sport). This medical certificate and the competitor's ECG report will be carried out during the 30 days before start of the race and are to be presented during the administrative and technical checks on 04 december 2006. Only the original documents will be accepted (photocopies not valid). Failure to present these documents will incur penalties (see ART.26 et 27).
The rhesus blood group must be mentioned, failing which the competitor will be penalised (see ART. : 26 and 27).
Vaccination against yellow fever is obligatory
You must have a international vaccination certificate to enter Mali.
CATEGORY B : Team registration :
The entry fee for participants wishing to register as members of an official team and have team ranking is 2400 Euros. They must state the name of the team and of each team member at the time the reservation is made (before 10th september 2006)
N.B. : The organisation reserves the right to refuse enrolment from any applicant without having to justify its decision.
The enrolment fee includes :
- flight
- visa
- bus transfers
- services
- bivouac
- hotel (2 - 3 days, half-board, sharing a double room)
- mineral water for the duration of the race
- repatriation insurance for Europe
- technical support
- medical assistance
- air and ground support
- survival kit
- tee-shirt
- medal

ART. 25 : FORFEITURE CANCELLATIONS
Enrolment cancellations and requests for refunds must be made in writing by registered mail in order to avoid any misunderstanding.
In the event of deposits already made or entry fees paid in full, refunds will be made on the following basis :
- 50 Euros will be retained for processing costs in the event of cancellation before 04/08/2006
- 10% of the full enrolment fee will be retained by the organisation in the event of cancellation between 05/08/2006 and 04/09/2006.
- 30% of the full enrolment fee will be retained by the orga-nisation in the event of cancellation between 05/09/2006 and 30/10/2006.
Beyond 30/10/2006 midnight no request for reimbursement will be honoured.
N.B.: We therefore advise all competitors to take out personal insurance covering cancellation with a company of your choice.

ART. 26 : ERRORS AND PENALTIES
Technical and administrative formalities
Competitors who are more than 30 minutes late for these checks on 04 December will be penalised by the length of time of his/her lateness. Failure to present all of the compulsory equipment will lead to a penalty or disqualification (See ART. 27).
Medical file
Competitors unable to provide a medical certificate and ECG (dated no more than 30 days before the start of the race) during the medical checks of 04 December, will not be allowed to begin the race. They will lose their security deposit cheque (see ART.27).
Survival gear
When spot checks are made by the race officials either during the race or at the finish line, failure to present the survival kit and material will incur penalties and possibly elimination (See ART. 27).
Compulsory equipment list
Competitors who cannot justify during a spot check the absence of one or more items of equipment will be penalised (see ART. 27).
Food
At the start of the race, according to his/her objective, any competitor unable to present the required number of calories will be disqualified. When spot-checks are made, and when crossing the finish line, the absence of the 2000 reserve survival K/calories will result in a penalty of 3 hours (See ART. 27).
Water reserves
The absence or use without valid reason of the reserve of water will incur a 2 hour penalty (See ART.27).
ID markings
In the event of loss or damage to ID markings, race officials must be informed immédiatialy, or a penalty will be applied.
Competitors failing to wear or correctly place their numbers may be disqualified. Failure to carry the pointing card will result in (see ART.27). Tampering with ID markings will result in the competitor's immediate elimination as well as loss of security deposit (see ART. 27).
Start of race
Competitors who are not present at the start when their name and number are called will be penalised by the time equivalent to their lateness. If more than 30 minutes late, the competitor will be disqualified and his/her ID number handed over to the steward (see ART. 27).
Check points
Competitors must register at check points and at the finish line. The first infraction will result in a two hour penalty, and the second infraction elimination fromthe race plus loss of security deposit (see ART. 27).
Maximum authorised time
Only competitors who cross the finish line within 60 hours will be ranked. Any competitor crossing the finish line after his/ her chosen time objective will receive a one hour penalty (See ART 23 and 27). Any competitor going through a check-point after the closing time indicated in the road book will be disqualified (See ART 27). At check-point 5 and 10, any competitor not able to continue the race within the time-limit indicated in the road book will be disqualified (See ART. 27).
Distress flares
Any abuse of distress flares without valid reason will result in a one hour penalty.
Withdrawal
Any competitor withdrawing from the race must notify an organisation official as soon as possible and hand his/her ID marking over to the organisation (at a check-point or to a race official). The security deposit will be lost.
Doping
Any competitor found by the medical team to have used illicit drugs will be disqualified from the race (see ART.27).
Ground assistance
It is specified that any outside assistance is strictly prohibited. Any competitor supplied with outside food or water will receive a 3 hours penalty the first time, and elimination from the race on the second occasion. Vital medical assistance (perfusion, etc.) will result in a two hours penalty the first time, and elimination from the race on the second occasion. Authorised extra water will result in a 30 minute penalty, and elimination from the race on the second occasion. The use of transportation, either with 2 or 4 wheels will result in elimination from the race (see ART. 27).
Environment
Any water container found on the race route will incur a penalty (see ART.27). The throwing away of any food packaging or other items on the race route is strictly forbidden and will be penalised (see ART. 27). As certain sites are protected, any damage inflicted will result in elimination from the race and prosecution.

ART. 27 : TABLEAU RECAPITULATIF DES PENALISATIONS

ART.28 : PHOTO COVERAGE
ATLANTIDE ORGANISATION Internationale reserves all exclusive rights for photo coverage of the DESERT CUP 2006.
Competitors agree that ATLANTIDE ORGANISATION Internationale may have exclusive use of their individual or collective names and pictures for anything related directly or indirectly to their participation in the DESERT CUP 2006. Any still camera, video or film coverage done during the DESERT CUP 2006 cannot be used by competitors, their entourage or trainers for any use other than personal, unless by prior authorisation from ATLANTIDE ORGANISATION Internationale.

ART. 29 : LIST OF PRIZES GENERAL RANKING :

Download race regulation pdf file (54 Mo)
Download race presentation pdf file (page 1) - (page 2) - (page 3) - (page 4) - (page 5) - (page 6)