Moroccan Olympic Hopes Dim as Athletes Struggle in Paris, Football Team Shines

The first African to win the World Boxing Championship, Moroccan Khadija Mardi failed to qualify for the semi-finals in the under 75 kg category in Paris. Boxer Widad Bertal, competing in the under 54 kg category, was eliminated in the quarter-finals after losing to North Korean Pang Choi-Miet by unanimous decision of the judges. The Moroccan pair composed of Abicha and El Graoui was eliminated from the competition, after suffering a third consecutive defeat in the group stage of the beach volleyball tournament against the Cubans Díaz-Alayo Moliner (2-0). Crowned with a bronze medal at the World Championships, kayaker Mathis Soudi finished 16th in the semi-finals of the Canoe-Kayak Slalom (K-1) events, thus failing to reach the final, as in 2021. Moroccan swimmer Ilias El Fallaki also failed to qualify for the next stage of the 400 meter freestyle. The Moroccan judokas, including Soumiya Iraoui and Abderrahmane Boushita, were also defeated and eliminated early in the tournament. As for rower Majdouline El Allaoui, she failed to qualify for the quarter-finals, finishing fifth in the repechage with a time of 8:42.07.

These defeats have aroused the anger of Moroccan supporters, knowing that Moroccan athletes have previously shone in their participation in the Olympic Games. Since its Olympic debut in Rome in 1960, Morocco has participated in 14 disciplines, excelling in athletics and boxing. The kingdom has notably won a total of 24 medals, seven gold, five silver and 12 bronze, ranking second among Arab countries in the Olympic history after Egypt.

Today, the disappointment is great. At the origin of this decline, sports policy specialist Moncef El Yazghi points to the lack of a comprehensive sports strategy covering all sports. "This situation highlights a point that I have been emphasizing for 15 years: we lack a comprehensive sports strategy that covers all sports. Instead, we have initiatives and efforts, but no global vision," he explained in an interview with Morocco World News. He continued: "Since 2008, despite the support of 330 billion dirhams granted by the King, we have not seen the development of champions." Yet, making a champion takes more than six years, he specified.

"This cannot be done in one or two days," the analyst added, stressing that the same importance given to football should be given to other "underdeveloped" sports categories. El Yazghi also deplored the absence of certain Moroccan sports and teams from the competition, particularly basketball and handball. "Why are other sports, which could potentially win medals, missing?" he asked, suggesting that Morocco focus on specific sports that can or cannot succeed. In addition to the lack of a clear vision for the promotion of other sports, most existing Moroccan sports federations, the expert pointed out, do not have the necessary resources to train champions in their disciplines. "Some federations operate on budgets so small that it is almost embarrassing to mention them," he fumed angrily. As a result, this has led to low participation and inadequate preparation, he added.

In total, 60 Moroccan athletes have joined France to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. They represent Morocco in 19 different sports disciplines such as football, boxing and athletics.