Morocco’s participation in the Paris 2024 Olympics has been described as “positive” by Minister of National Education, Pre-Primary Education, and Sports, Chakib Benmoussa, even though it didn’t entirely meet expectations.
– The country won a gold medal in the men’s 3000-meter steeplechase through athlete Soufiane El Bakkali.
– They also made history by claiming a bronze medal in the men’s under-23 football tournament, marking Morocco’s first Olympic medal in football and the first for any Arab national team in Olympic history.
– Overall, Morocco finished 60th in the medal tally globally, 9th in Africa, and 5th in the Arab world.
In addition to the Olympic achievements, Morocco’s Paralympic team excelled, bringing home a total of 15 medals: 3 gold, 6 silver, and 6 bronze, which placed the country 31st worldwide.
Benmoussa expressed pride in Morocco’s longstanding involvement in major sporting events, highlighting that the Olympics, World Cup, and track and field competitions unite the Moroccan people, especially during athlete victories.
Despite the positive outcomes, he acknowledged that the results did not fully live up to public expectations, especially following the national football team’s strong performance in the 2022 Qatar World Cup. This has raised the bar for Morocco’s aspirations in the international sports arena.
