Disappointing Olympic Outcome Sparks Criticism from Former Moroccan Champion

Monday 12 August 2024 - 10:50

In the aftermath of the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, Nezha Bidouane, former athlete and current president of the Royal Moroccan Federation for Sports, has openly criticized Morocco's performance at the Games.

Morocco's delegation, comprising 60 athletes across 19 sports, secured only two medals: a gold in the 3,000-meter steeplechase by Sofiane El Bakkali and a bronze from the national football team.

Hassan Fakkak, technical director of the Moroccan Olympic Committee, labeled the results as positive, prompting a sharp rebuke from Bidouane. She urged, “Respect the intelligence of Moroccans; they are not fools.”

Bidouane lamented the overall performance: “Aside from El Bakkali’s anticipated gold and the football team’s bronze, expected to be gold, the results are disappointing.”

The two-time world champion in the 400-meter hurdles and bronze medalist at the 2000 Sydney Olympics stated, “I am surprised by attempts to portray this outcome as positive. Moroccans can evaluate the performance accurately.”

Bidouane stressed the importance of considering all sports, noting that Morocco had achieved superior results in the past. “It is unacceptable to mislead Moroccans and remain silent,” she asserted.

Recalling the Sydney 2000 Olympics, where Morocco won five medals, Bidouane added, “Those lacking sports knowledge should refrain from giving Moroccans false opinions.”

The performance at the Paris Olympics fell short of the expectations of Moroccan sports fans, who viewed it as a setback despite the achievements by El Bakkali and the football team.