the repercussions of the battle on the Sables marathon | EUROtoday

On Dec 1, 2023

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HASWhile the stage positioned in Jordan came about (from November 4 to 10), the Half Marathon des Sables – a legendary occasion which noticed the sunshine of day in 1987 –, deliberate for Egypt, didn’t happen this 12 months. The race, which was to final from November 18 to November 24, was canceled 5 days earlier than, due, amongst different issues, to an absence of safety.
Cyril Gauthier, the organizer of the occasion, tells us concerning the occasions that led to the postponement.

Point : Why did it’s a must to cancel the Les Sables Half Marathon on the final minute?

Cyril Gauthier: This is just not a cancellation, however a postponement. We are going to keep up the race and hope that it takes place in November 2024. When we arrange races, we’re involved with the totally different governments of the international locations the place they happen, whether or not in Peru, Morocco, Turkey, and so forth. . This is the very first thing: explaining to them how we function, how we talk with them, and so forth. Depending on occasions, you’ve gotten to have the ability to adapt. When I discuss occasions, it isn’t simply wars. This was the case in Turkey, with the earthquake that occurred this 12 months, which value the lives of fifty,000 individuals.

When the conflict broke out between Hamas and Israel on October 7, we instantly requested the query concerning the two editions that had been arriving: Jordan and Egypt. As we do with all our occasions, we contacted the general public authorities to make sure that safety situations can be revered, what can be put in place and, probably, what can be imposed on us. .

For Jordan, we had day by day conferences; you simply have to observe the information channels constantly to understand that the scenario might reverse from sooner or later to the subsequent. We felt that there have been some demonstrations however no confirmed danger that may have prevented the version of the Sables marathon from happening. The Jordanian authorities merely elevated its surveillance and every thing went very nicely. The members didn’t really feel any change in comparison with the 2022 version.

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We had all of the itinerary validations, however on Monday of the week earlier than the race, we had an identical assembly between our groups on web site, these in Europe and the Egyptian authorities. And there, they started to elucidate to us that it could be a lot better if our bivouac was arrange subsequent to a village and never removed from any civilization. We replied that it was not in our DNA, however they defined to us that it could be rather more sensible for them to intervene in these situations. Therefore, we’d even have needed to change our itineraries. They defined to us that the night time race was an issue for them and that members would solely must run in the course of the day. Knowing that on the massive stage, 70% of our runners end at night time, we had been actually beginning to deviate from the DNA of the race. It was now not the identical product and our runners, who belief us, wouldn’t have understood.

What occurred from there?

We had a suspicion of doubt which started to fret us. We mentioned it internally. All our groups had been on web site, all our gear was assembled, resort rooms reserved, and so forth. But a very powerful factor clearly remained the protection of our members and our groups, with out eager about the colossal monetary loss that this could generate.

The Sables marathon has loved stability in Morocco for 37 editions. Even with the Iraq wars or in the course of the Arab Spring, it all the time came about.

How a lot do you estimate it to be?

It was 700,000 euros ten days in the past however we managed to barter with sure intermediaries to carry it right down to 500,000 euros for an occasion which prices a complete of between 800,000 and a million euros. We lastly made the choice to postpone the race. The disappointment of the rivals was complete however we managed to make sure that it did not value them something. They have the selection between being reimbursed 100% or deferring their registration to a different version of the Sables marathon. The solely monetary value is for the organizer.

How did the members react to this postponement?

More than 95% of members thanked us. Our curiosity was for the race to occur. We want to maintain their belief than take any danger for his or her security.

The occasion has existed since 1986. Do you are worried that will probably be increasingly tough to prepare any such race sooner or later?

The postponement is one thing to combine into any such occasion. We work in numerous international locations all over the world and all types of occasions can occur. In 2022 in Peru, we organized a race and on the final day, there was the beginning of a civil conflict and a curfew established. Everyone needed to be repatriated. We did it with out drawback as a result of we had been involved with the French embassy. But I do not assume will probably be any harder to prepare sooner or later. The Sables marathon has loved stability in Morocco for 37 editions. Even with the Iraq wars or in the course of the Arab Spring, it all the time came about.

Are you contemplating opening as much as new international locations within the close to future?

In May 2024, we’ll launch the primary race in Namibia, now we have simply acquired authorization. We are going to run in a nature reserve, which brings plenty of constraints for us, the organizing group. It took us three years to prepare this race.

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