Nawal El Moutawakel: We are ready to cooperate with the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus

The representatives of the Moroccan Olympic Movement have visited the Belarusian counterparts in Minsk. 

The delegation from Morocco represented by IOC Member Nawal El Moutawakel, country's National Olympic Committee First Vice-President Kamal Lahlou and member of the Morocco 2026 FIFA World Cup bid committee Samira Sitail paid a visit to the NOC Belarus HQ.

In the course of the visit, the foreign delegation held a meeting with NOC Belarus First Vice-President Andrei Astashevich and Secretary General George Katulin. The parties discussed an opportunity of cooperation between the two NOCs and experience of bidding to stage large-scale sport events. The possibility of hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2026 in Morocco was the focus of attention at the meeting.

Andrei Astashevich delivered a welcome speech:

“First and foremost I would like to welcome you to our Olympic home. I hope you have enjoyed your stay in Belarus and we can find common ground. We know that Morocco is strong in athletics. Unfortunately, today one of the main topics in the world of sport for discussion is doping, and we, inter alia, would like to learn the way you fight it”.

“We are glad to welcome such designated representatives of the Moroccan Olympic Movement. You are one of the first NOCs from Africa have ever visited our country, and we are delighted to discuss all aspects of cooperation”, – said George Katulin.

As for Nawal El Moutawakel, she said the delegation was very impressed with a visit to our country:

“We are happy to be in Minsk today. This is my third visit to Belarus. Last time I came here to support our bid to host the FIFA World Cup. We remind it is our fifth bid, but we do not give up and get even stronger. In this regard the experience of Paris is extremely indicative as their Olympic bid has been satisfied at as many as the sixth attempt. Besides, I would like to congratulate you on being awarded the right to host the II European Games 2019 in Minsk. I saw Baku 2015 and how it was organized with my own eyes. At the same time, I am very glad that you have been chosen to stage the second European Games edition. I am sure the level of organization is as high as in Baku. I talked to Azerbaijani Minister of Youth and Sport Azad Rahimov – he believes that Minsk is the ideal host city for the 2nd EuroGames. I heard the same from my friend Spyros Capralos, Chairman of the Minsk 2019 CoCom. I am sure you will keep everything under control in terms of budget and timing. Referring to what I have seen today, I can state you are ready to host the Games right now. Therefore I am convinced it will be a fantastic sport event. I consider visiting of the Minsk 2019 competitions as one of my top priority plans. I cherish the dream of organizing the similar event in Africa. We are ready to cooperate with the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus. It is a pleasure to learn that we are the second African NOC to visit our Belarusian counterparts in the history of your country. I hope it is just the beginning of our collaboration”.

In the end of the meeting, the delegation of Morocco went on an excursion to the NOC Belarus Olympic Museum.