Circuits of the Future talentscouting operation launched by Nezha
Bidouane
Mohammed Bencherif (MAP)
24 January 2002 – Rabat, Morocco – A series of races for women
and young girls is to be organised in a different Moroccan town on the last Sunday of each
month, at the initiative of double world champion hurdler Nezha Bidouane..
According to Bidouane, the races over a maximum course of 5 km, which are being organised with the support of the Moroccan Ministry of Youth and Sports, are intended to “develop women’s sport at the national level and help Moroccan women realize their potential.
“Seeing that in 2002 there is no major athletics competition outside the World Cup, I decided to launch this idea that I have been contemplating since the IAAF created the Year of Women in Athletics and named me the ambassador for Africa of this movement.”
Bidouane said that she was further stimulated by the decrease in the number of women competitors from her country: “In Edmonton, we were just three women to represent a country that has enormous athletics potential. I hope that this initiative will help us activate women athletics.”
To encourage participation at the events, there will be prizes for the first five athletes across the line, ranging from 5000 dirhams ($500) for first to 1000 dirhams ($100) for fifth place. Various gifts will be distributed to all of the participants in the races, estimated at 800 per race.
The circuit (Circuits de l'Avenir in French) will take place over a twelve month period, with the final event a road race over a mile in Casablanca.
Sunday 27 January Sala Al
Jadida
Sunday 24 February Agadir
Sunday 31 March Marrakech
Sunday 28 April El Jadida
Sunday 26 May: Casablanca
Sunday 30 June: Tanger
Sunday 28 July: Tétouan
Sunday 25 August: Nador
Sunday 29 September: Oujda
Sunday 27 October: Fès
Sunday 24 November: Meknès
Sunday 22 December: Béni Mellal
Sunday 29 December: Grand Prix in Casablanca one mile road race
