Tag: Sports

Royal Golf Dar Es Salam Crowned 2026 Throne Cup Champions

Royal Golf Dar Es Salam wins 2026 Throne Cup Champions

With another competitive edition concluded, the 2026 Throne Cup reaffirmed its status as one of the flagship events on Morocco’s national golf calendar, celebrating both sporting excellence and the strength of team competition.

Faith Kipyegon Attempts to Break the 4-Minute Mile

Rabat – Yesterday, Faith Kipyegon became the first woman to realistically attempt to run a mile in under four minutes at Stade Charlety, Paris. While she fell short of the elusive mark, her record-breaking run was impressive and awe-inspiring in its own right. Kipyegon ran a whole mile in 4:06.42, faster than her own world record of 4:07.64, set in 2023. Despite being 1.22 seconds quicker, it will not count towards an official record due to the artificial race put on by Nike. It’s been 70 years since Roger Bannister became the first man to break the landmark 4 minute mile. Since then over 1700 athletes have achieved this mark, showing the evolution of running and the human capacity to improve, yet no woman has ever accomplished this. Last night Kipyegon’s performance reinforced the strength of the human spirit, showing that a sub 4-minute mile is within reach. This year, Nike partnered with Kipyegon under the banner Breaking4 in an attempt to rewrite history.  Taking all the available advantages, Kipyegon ran alongside 13 pacers in a carefully organised formation and choreography designed to leverage the “draft”, as well as wearing a specialized speed-suit, sports bra and spikes. The athlete’s record-breaking attempt is a symbol of courage, ambition and freedom. When interviewed afterward, the world-record holder says, “it was tough, but I am so proud of what I’ve done, and I’m going to keep on trying, dreaming and pursuing big goals.”  More than just running fast, the Kenyan runner says “I want to show the world, and especially women, that you have to dare to try.”  Hailed as the most decorated middle-distance runner of all times, Kipyegon holds two current world records in the 1500m and mile. She is also a 3x olympic champion, and 4x world champion across middle distance events.

Morocco Hosts 2025 Spogomi World Cup Qualifier in Casablanca

Spogomi, the Japanese sport that turns trash collection into competition, lands in Casablanca this weekend. Fez– Morocco is set to host the national qualifier for the 2025 Spogomi World Cup this Saturday, June 28, on the beach of Ain Diab in Casablanca.  This eco-sporting event, both playful and purposeful, returns for its second edition in the country, organized by the Bahri Association, under the patronage of the Embassy of Japan in Morocco, and supported by The Nippon Foundation. The event marks more than a beach cleanup, it’s a competitive sport with a clear environmental mission.  Spogomi, a Japanese invention whose name fuses the words “sport” and “gomihiroi” (garbage collection), was created in 2008 and has since evolved into a global movement.  Teams of three race against the clock to collect and sort trash within a defined perimeter.  Points are awarded not only based on volume but also on the type of waste gathered. It’s fast, strategic, and unexpectedly fun, but also deeply educational. At a glance, it might look like a game. But the structure and intent behind Spogomi are far from casual. It’s a tool of environmental education disguised as a contest, one that brings together all generations around a shared objective: protecting public spaces and reducing plastic pollution through real, visible action. Thirty Moroccan teams will take part in the 2025 Morocco Qualifier, with the winning team earning a spot in the global final of “The Nippon Foundation Spogomi World Cup” in Tokyo this October.  Last year, Morocco made a strong impression in its debut year, ranking fifth out of 21 participating countries, a performance that signaled not only competitiveness but genuine civic engagement on environmental issues. The ambition for this year’s edition is to go even further. Organizers aim to turn the event into a broader platform for action and dialogue.  Students, families, NGOs, businesses, and institutions are all encouraged to take part, not just as competitors, but as supporters, volunteers, and advocates.  The beach becomes a temporary hub where sport, sustainability, and community intersect. What makes Spogomi different is that it doesn’t separate awareness from action. Participants don’t just talk about environmental responsibility, they act on it.  Each item of trash collected becomes proof of effort, each team a small force for change.  That message is especially powerful for younger generations, who are growing up in a world shaped by climate urgency. Here, they get a chance to engage directly, with purpose and optimism. The event also reflects Morocco’s growing integration into global environmental initiatives. Thanks to the work of the Bahri Association, founded in 2010 and now a national reference in environmental education, Morocco joined the international Spogomi circuit in 2023.  Bahri continues to lead on coastal protection and youth engagement, bringing creative and practical solutions to the national sustainability agenda. The 2025 Morocco Qualifier says that waste isn’t invisible. That cleaning up isn’t someone else’s job. That collective action can be joyful, inclusive, and motivating.  And that sport can be a surprising but powerful force in shaping new habits. In a world of climate summits and slow-moving policies, Spogomi offers something refreshing: immediate impact and visible results.  On June 28, Casablanca’s Ain Diab beach won’t just be a scenic backdrop, it will be a test ground for commitment, collaboration, and the kind of active citizenship the planet urgently needs. Read also: Ait Ben Haddou Listed Among CNN Travel World’s Most Beautiful Castles

Traditional Moroccan Sports

As Morocco races toward modernity, its traditional sports are struggling to keep up. Can they survive the test of time? Fez– Not so long ago, traditional sports held a special place in Moroccan culture. They weren’t just for fun, they were a way to bring people together, teach values like teamwork and respect, and strengthen community ties.  But with modern life moving at full speed, many of these sports are disappearing. Some rural areas still fight to keep them alive through annual festivals, local clubs, and informal gatherings.   Types of traditional sports Traditional Moroccan sports fall into two main categories: those that involve animals and those that rely entirely on human skill.   Sports involving animals:  Tbourida (Fantasia) This famous equestrian sport is a dazzling display of horsemanship and synchronized gunfire. Originally a military training technique, it has evolved into a competitive sport and a major attraction at festivals, with riders in colorful traditional outfits charging forward before firing their rifles in perfect unison.   Camel racing Popular in Morocco’s southern regions, camel racing is a high-speed competition held on sandy tracks. Riders urge their camels forward in a test of endurance, skill, and strategy. It remains a key feature of events like the Tan-Tan Festival.   Mata Played in northern Morocco, Mata is a fast-paced game where two teams compete to seize a decorated doll called “the bride.”  The goal is to carry it back to their tribe while dodging opponents on horseback. It requires quick thinking, agility, and teamwork.   Falconry Practiced mainly in the Doukkala region, falconry is an ancient hunting tradition where trained falcons are released to catch prey like rabbits and partridges.  It’s a sport that demands patience, precision, and a deep bond between hunter and bird.   Sloughi hunting In the Moroccan countryside, hunting with Sloughi dogs is both a sport and a cultural tradition. These sleek, fast hounds chase down rabbits, competing to be the first to catch them.  Some regions even hold Sloughi races to test their speed and endurance.   Sports based on human strength and skill Archery and shooting Historically, archery was an essential skill for Moroccan warriors. Over time, it transformed into a sport where participants use rifles or handmade bows to hit distant targets.   Khbit Chara A precision shooting game played in the desert, where marksmen aim at small, hard-to-hit objects like metal plates or stones placed far away. It requires extreme focus and accuracy.   Meshkah A traditional game similar to hockey, played with wooden sticks and a handmade ball. Two teams compete to score the most goals on a field with goalposts and boundary lines.   Jbad lhbel (Tug-of-War) A test of raw strength and teamwork, this game involves two teams pulling on opposite ends of a thick rope. The team that drags the other across a marked line wins.   Korara A wrestling-style sport, similar to judo, where the goal is to lift an opponent off the ground and throw them inside a circular ring.   Ardoukh  A game that combines wrestling and strategy, where players try to lock their opponents in a hold and force them to the ground.   The fight to keep these sports alive Once widespread, many of these sports are now fading into history. They were once a key part of childhood, courtship rituals, and social gatherings, but today, fewer young people practice them.  While some festivals and associations are working to preserve these traditions, without greater efforts, Morocco risks losing a rich and unique part of its cultural heritage. Read also: How Morocco’s Youth Are Redefining Ramadan Traditions with Social Media

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