Casablanca Gym Owners Protest Extended COVID-19 Closures, Citing Health Benefits

The sports & Fitness halls in Casablanca have been closed for a month after a resumption in mid-July. "Sport is a vector of health that largely contributes to strengthening the immune system. We do not understand why the authorities in Casablanca have decided to close the sports & fitness halls when the circular issued at the national level did not mention the sports halls," declares Samy Houiche, founder of the Gym Factory sports hall, to Challenge.ma.

And to continue: "The sports halls in the other cities are open, but here in Casablanca we are prohibited from opening. Already, with the 3 months of confinement that we have undergone, our situation was already very delicate, and if today we have to remain closed while the owners of the walls are demanding their rents, it is clear that dozens of companies will close." Already, 4 sports halls have already closed their doors.

According to Mr. Houiche, the operators in the sector have taken all the necessary Covid-19 restriction measures to guarantee the health safety of customers. "We have implemented physical distancing, a limited number of people (10) with access to the halls at the same time, cleaning of equipment before and after each use, closing of showers..." he explains.

Faced with the situation, the Moroccan Association of Fitness and Wellness Industry Professionals (AMPIF) has appealed to the wali of the city. In a letter signed by about fifty sports halls, the association explained the situation facing the operators, a situation that has caused a historic job loss. In parallel, it is conducting a mobilization campaign on social networks under the hashtag #openourgym. The aim is to call on the local authorities to reopen the halls as soon as possible.