Moroccan Elite Athletes Turn to WhatsApp for Remote Training Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

This decision was made by the National Institute of Athletics, based in Rabat, and the Mohammed VI Academy of Ifrane, following the directives of the Royal Moroccan Athletics Federation (FRMA).

In these places reserved only for training sessions, the elite of Moroccan athletes were preparing for the World Half Marathon Championships, the World Indoor Championships, and the African Cross Country Championships.

The FRMA had announced the suspension of athletics training camps and competitions until the end of March. In this regard, the coaches are using the WhatsApp application to organize individual morning and evening training sessions to stay in touch with the athletes.

As for the champions, Soufiane el-Bakkali, Abdelati Iguider, Reda El Arabi and Othman El Komri, they are currently training in Ifrane, while the rest of the athletes are in Rabat and are under the medical team’s supervision. Furthermore, the FRMA is awaiting instructions from the IAAF to decide on the date of the Diamond League, scheduled to take place in Rabat at the end of May.