Moroccan athlete gets Abdou Diouf sport-virtue foundation's excellence prize
Morocco, Sports, 10/25/2001

The Abdou Diouf Sport-Virtue foundation gave its excellence prize ex-aqueco to Senegalese athlete Ami Mbacke and Moroccan athlete, Nezha Bidouane, World champ in the 400 m-hurdles women race.

Bidouane, 32, said she is proud to succeed as a laureate of the prize to co-citizens Said Aouita and Hicham El Gueerouj. The prize rewards Bidouane's regional, continental and international performances. She boasts a rich table of championships, including two victories at the 1997 and 2001 world championships of Athena and Edmonton, a second place in Sevilla-99 and a bronze medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympic games.

She is also holder of 17 Arab medals, of the African record in the 400 m-hurdles race and of the world cup with the African selection in 1998 in Johannesburg. She said she is now eyeing the 2004 Olympic title after she missed it in Sydney.

The foundation, named after former Senegalese president Abdou Diouf, awards every year excellence and honor prizes to outstanding African athletes and an encouragement prize to a Senegalese athlete. This year's honor prize went to South Africa's Hestri Cluttie, world champion in the high jump.

The foundation also awarded this year a special prize to Liamine Diack, chairman of the International Athletics Federation (IAAF) and chairman of the African athletics confederation (CAAA).

The Senegalese football team received two millions of CFA francs as a contribution to their preparation to the 2002 world soccer cup and the African nations cup.

Previous Stories:
  El Guerrouj Clings to 1,500   (10/24/2001)
  Driss El Heimer Wins Amsterdam Marathon   (10/23/2001)
  Tennis: Morocco's Younes El Aynaoui Cruises to Second Round of Stockholm Tournament   (10/23/2001)

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