The solidary race with the Saharawi refugees will be held in a virtual way
-The participants will be able to run in their country while supporting the humanitarian project.
-The event will push through to support Western Sahara in this very delicate moment.
The Sahara needs us like never before. At a time when Covid19 has hit the whole world, the Saharawi camps in Tindouf are experiencing an extremely complicated situation in which their precarious living conditions are compounded by the impact of the pandemic and the consequences of the war conflict that has resumed after thirty years of ceasefire.
In these circumstances and given the impossibility of performing the Sahara Marathon in person and with the assistance of runners from all over the world, the organization of the solidarity race has launched a very special edition with a virtual event. Runners and supporters of the Saharawi cause will be able to participate in the prestigious race through a digital application that will be available once the registration is made (€ 15) and that will allow the athletes to run from anywhere in the world.
The Sahara Marathon is a solidary race organized by the Saharawi Ministry of Youth and Sports and a group of volunteers from different countries. During the last twenty years, the race in the desert has served as a platform to denounce the unjust situation that exists in Western Sahara and to tackle countless solidarity projects in the refugee camps. Thousands of runners from all continents have traveled during this time to the Algerian desert to live the experience provided by this race and to bond with refugee families. In this unique edition of 2021, the objectives of the event remain, although the experience will be different.
Participants will be able to carry out their race during the last week of February. They will be able to choose the most appropriate distance (5, 10, 21 or 42 km) and even run in various distances or repeat the race throughout the week (the best time will be validated). The application also invites runners to upload their videos and messages of solidarity with the Sahara to their social networks. All the money contributed for this solidarity project, as well as the donations or acquisitions of the inscription pack (T-shirt, tubular scarf, bib number and book 42 years = 42 km), will be used in the Sahara Marathon solidarity project, which on this occasion is about Saharawi families in need of direct help, through the purchase and distribution of a basic food basket bought on site to favor the local economy.
On February 26, the usual date for holding the marathon in other editions, a race will be organized in the Saharawi refugee camps by the Saharawi Ministry of Youth and Sports, where Saharawi athletes will participate, with the aim of keeping the spirit of the Sahara Marathon alive . The pandemic has caused significant restrictions to humanitarian aid for the Saharawi refugee camps during the last year, as well as to all the visits of aid workers and people in solidarity with the Saharawi people, leading the refugee camps to a humanitarian crisis that is added to the global health crisis, therefore, we invite all regular participants in the Sahara Marathon, as well as all those committed to this cause, to support this alternative project, participating in the virtual race or contributing a small donation via www.saharamarathon.org. As it can be read on the official race jersey: “The desert wind will spread the Saharawi voice around the world.”
-Solidarity pack: Whether you are going to participate in the virtual race or not, you can collaborate with the Sahara Marathon 2021 humanitarian project with the acquisition of the solidarity pack that includes:
* Official Sahara Marathon 2021 T-shirt
* Tubular scarf
* Race bib number
* book 42 years = 42 km
All this for 25 € (shipping included to Spain- € 10 to other countries)
2021 Project: The money raised through the Sahara Marathon 2021 Solidarity Project will go to the purchase and distribution of basic food baskets for the most needy families in the Saharawi Camps of Tindouf. The acquisition of food and the distribution will be managed locally to favor the generation of business and employment in the camps. The higher the collection, the more families will receive the aid.
RULES OF THE 2021 SAHARA MARATHON
ARTICLE 1. XXI SAHARA MARATHON 2021. The Sahara Marathon is a solidarity race with Sahrawi refugees who are living in exile for several decades in the Tindouf camps in Algeria. In these difficult moments in which Covid19 prevents the celebration of the 21st edition of the Sahara Marathon under normal conditions, the organization promotes the event virtually so that all runners can participate and show their solidarity anywhere in the world. It will be held from February 22nd to 28th, 2021 in a virtual way, that is, each one can run the race from the place they want, from 00:00 on February 22nd until 23:59 on February 28th.
ARTICLE 2. PARTICIPATION All those people over 16 years of age (16 years included) who wish may take part in this virtual competition, as long as they are correctly registered, both in time and in form. The registered runner must download the APP to take the race. From that moment on, the user with their registration code will be able to use the APP as training. The valid time will be:
• Only the one carried out within the dates of the race.
• The final time will be the best of the records obtained in the RACE option in the APP. To do this, you will have to press the race start button in said option and complete the registration distance, the registrations made in the Training option both in the days before and after are NOT VALID.
• You will also be able to participate (between February 22 and 28) with your GPS device and upload the GPX track at the following link: https://exercise-upload.copernico.cloud/sahara-marathon-2021/
ARTICLE 3. DISTANCE AND TRAVEL The distance options selectable in the APP are: 5k, 10k, 21k and 42k. The distance is selected at the time of registration. As it is a virtual test, each participant chooses the route, within the health regulations of the moment, as attractive as possible, helping to give the maximum in their run. Each runner is solely responsible for complying with the specific prevention measures against Covid19 in force in their city. The route chosen to carry out the race is free, therefore it will also be the responsibility of the participant to comply with the traffic regulations and necessary safety measures. In addition, it is very important to make sure that the chosen route allows good mobile coverage for the correct functioning of the GPS. It is very important to have the APP downloaded on the day of the test at the latest, although the ideal and recommended by the organization is to have it the previous days and test it with the trainings.
ARTICLE 4. CATEGORIES. The following categories are established for each of the races: Individual categories (Years completed on the day of the race) • Absolute • Junior (up to 18 years) • Senior (from 19 to 34 years) • Master A (from 35 to 44 years) • Master B (45 to 54 years) • Master C (55 and over)
ARTICLE 5. REGISTRATION Online from February 10th to February 28th. Registration has a cost of 15 euros that includes participation in the race and the contribution to the solidarity project Sahara Marathon 2021 * Participants who wish can purchase the official solidarity pack of the test (T-shirt, tubular skarf, bib dorsal and book “42 years = 42 km”) for the price of 25 euros (shipping costs included to any point in Spain, 10€ for all other countries).
ARTICLE 6. CLASSIFICATIONS The unofficial general classification will be published on the website www.saharamarathon.org and on the event’s APP.
ARTICLE 7. DISQUALIFICATIONS The following will be grounds for disqualification: • The athlete who does not complete the entire course. • The athlete who shows non-sports behavior.
ARTICLE 8. ACCEPTANCE All participants, by registering, accept these regulations and in case of doubt or any situation not reflected in it arises, the Organizing Committee will follow. • Each runner will participate under his own responsibility, he claims to have a sufficient level of physical condition to face the race and undertakes to accept these regulations. • Registration is personal and non-transferable and implies acceptance of these regulations. Under no circumstances, once the registration is made, may the participation be transferred to another person, friend or family member due to not being able to take the race. • Runners who are not registered or run without the Official Sahara Marathon App will not be admitted, preventing them from having access to the race in defense of the rights of those registered by regulation.
