Olympic Champion El Bakkali Slams Moroccan Athletics Federation Over Low Athlete Bonuses

"Failed plans that do not motivate the players. [...] Please reconsider," the Moroccan Olympic champion wrote in an Instagram story, likely referring to the rewards the Moroccan National Olympic Committee (CNOM) plans to award to Moroccan athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He thus joins the long list of former and current athletes who criticize the Moroccan sports authorities and consider the announced prizes unsatisfactory or even demotivating.

The CNOM has announced that it plans to pay 2 million dirhams to gold medalists at the 2024 Olympic Games and 1.25 million dirhams to silver medalists. As for the bronze medalists, they should receive 750,000 dirhams. On Facebook, several former athletes have also expressed their frustrations with the poor management of Moroccan talent and sports infrastructure. They call on the Royal Moroccan Athletics Federation (FRMA) to change its policy and give priority to decorated Moroccan athletes.

The poor management of Athletics has also pushed the former physical trainer of Wydad AC, Driss Ouajjou, to refuse to join the FRMA, reports the Arabic daily Assabah. He would have pointed to inadequate technical staff and scouting issues. "Moroccan athletics lacks a coherent vision and project," a former athlete told Morocco World News anonymously. "Some only work for their own interest, and you can’t treat coaching work like administrative work, you need a project and concrete goals."