19e édition - du 14 au 29 mars 2009
Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles
La référence féminine depuis 1990
Organization
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Organiser
Dominique SERRA
Her heart belongs to the African continent thanks to her maternal roots in Algeria and her paternal roots in Morocco. She spent her early years in the wind-swept open spaces, at the gateway to the desert, an experience which would influence her in the years to come…
From an early age, she learned the value of hard work… She was known as the “head of the gang”, the leader… much to her grandmother’s despair, who would make the sign of the cross whenever she saw her granddaughter! Dominique started her professional career in the field of communication and then travel, before setting up her first company… A woman of character, passionate, a feminist at heart and a champion in her soul (none of which stops her from leading a family life with her husband and three children), she created the first rally for women in 1990. Ahead of her time and contrary to the trend in male-dominated motor sports, she remains true to her idea, to her passion.
Today she manages Maïenga, an international event management agency based in France. She motivates and looks after some 150 organisers and over 200 “Gazelles” during the event, with her eternal charisma and energy that leave no-one indifferent!
Maïenga
Maïenga is an international event management agency, founded in 1990. Now counting 10 employees, Maïenga’s purpose is to create and support innovative and unusual projects.
In this spirit our team breathes respect, responsibility and quality into its work.
Building on its proven experience with the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles, Maïenga has applied its savoir-faire to a second major event: the Students Challenge Morocco. (www.studentschallenge.com)
The whole MAIENGA team is at your disposal to provide advice, assistance and a friendly ear. (return to contact page)
General Organisation of the event
11 months before the event: planning and strategy stage. Providing information to future Gazelles, improving logistic structures and supervision.
10 months before the event: planning and optimisation of the various solutions.
6 months before the event: the route is drawn up, the bivouac sites are chosen… Time to finalise the specifications, check details... and the countdown begins.
The event begins in France with the technical and administrative verifications.
The official start of the competition takes place in Morocco, host country right from the beginning.
Then, in Morocco, the Organisation and its 150 organisers take the participants in hand, looking after their needs on many levels:
Sport and safety:
Sporting management and security are two essential aspects of the Rallye. In this regard, the Organiser dedicates considerable human and technical resources in order to meet its quality standards in these areas.
The Rallye was the first to use a satellite tracking system to follow the teams 24 hours a day.
A 25-member medical team – emergency doctors, nurses, osteopaths, several medical 4WD vehicles and a helicopter – ensure maximal safety during the Rallye.
Competition Management:
40 operations personnel working day and night (Sporting Director, sporting officials, assistance mechanics...). The most recent technologies are used for the management of the Rallye in order to make sure that everything runs smoothly.
Communications and telecommunications:
Several satellite and radio solutions are implemented in order to ensure communications at the Rallye and with the rest of the world (50 radios, 8 VHF relays, 40 satellite telephones).
Bivouac and Logistics:
The Rallye is based on incredible logistics!
A little nomad village in true Moroccan style, the bivouac moves with the event. It comes to life on the day of the prologue and never goes back to sleep. Its objectives are threefold:
* To provide the participants with a peaceful haven, where they can rest and recuperate,
* To provide the journalists with the best possible working conditions,
* To provide the organisers with the technical means to accomplish their mission.
The Bivouac:
50 people, 10 trucks, 6 hours to set up and 3 hours to take down every day, 30 modular tents, a 500 m² restaurant, a bar, an 80m² press space, a medical tent, an Internet access room, 4 trucks fitted with hot showers and toilets, 180 tonnes of water, 12,000 meals served, 35,000 bottles of spring water, 1 photo/video trailer...
The Rallye respects the area it travels through, by cleaning up and collecting all of the waste produced by the caravan, leaving a “clean bivouac”.
The Mechanics Area:
With considerable technical resources and 30 mechanics, the mechanics area provides daily repairs and maintenance of all vehicles.
6 fuel attendants and 2 tank trucks provide fuel at the bivouac.
Transportation:
1 chartered boat and 1 chartered plane, more than 400 people on organised trips at the event.
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ANDRE MANOUKIAN, PATRON OF HEART OF GAZELLES
André Manoukian, French songwriter, arranger, actor and jazz musician, is the patron of Heart of Gazelles.He will be “in the field” to inaugurate the association’s new...
