Moroccan princess receives special prize from international Olympic committee
Morocco, Politics, 3/8/2004

Morocco's Princess Lalla Amina, chairperson of the Moroccan Royal Federation of Equestrian Sports, received this Sunday a special prize from the International Olympic Committee which is holding this March 7-9 its 3rd conference on "women and sports, new strategies and new commitments."

The princess, aunt of king Mohammed VI, highlighted in an acceptance address the brilliant performance of Moroccan female athletes in various athletics events, stressing that women "have thus achieved equality with men, a fact which has recently been enshrined by His Majesty King Mohammed VI in a modern Family Law which preserves, in an exemplary and unprecedented way, the rights of women and children alike."

She also considered the honorary prize as "a tribute to the efforts made by Morocco for the advancement of sport, under the guidance of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, and thanks to his active support for all athletes, especially women."

The IOC conference held under the high patronage of King Mohammed VI is attended by IOC president, Count Jacque Rogge, president of the Moroccan Olympic Committee (CNOM), General Hosni Benslimane, president of the African Football Federation and IOC member, Issa Hayatou, and several other foreign and Moroccan figures.

A record 44% of athletes will be women in the Athens Olympic games. The IOC expects an equal number of men and women to compete in future Games. "Our ultimate goal must be 50-50 participation," Rogge said in his speech.

Princess Lalla Amina underscore Sunday at an acceptance address of the International Olympic Committee's Special prize that "Morocco has become a key player in various international athletics events, thanks to many champions, especially in women's competitions, where Moroccan women have performed outstandingly."

Speaking at the IOC World Conference on Women and Sport held in Marrakesh this March 7-9, the princess who is chairwoman of the Moroccan royal federation of equestrian sports, stressed that Moroccan female champions reflects women's integration in all walks of life. "They have thus achieved equality with men, a fact which has recently been enshrined by His Majesty King Mohammed VI in a modern Family Law which preserves, in an exemplary and unprecedented way, the rights of women and children alike," she went on.

"I feel particularly proud that Moroccan women managed to come out of the shackles of exclusion and marginalization. They are now contributing to building a prosperous, modern and democratic Morocco, alongside their male fellow citizens, under the guidance of the glorious Alawite Throne, which has immensely contributed to the emancipation of Moroccan women from all forms of backwardness," said the princess.

The Moroccan princess also said "I also wish to express my gratitude and say how touched I was by the honorary prize kindly awarded to me." She added that the prize of "a tribute to the efforts made by Morocco for the advancement of sport, under the guidance of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, and thanks to his active support for all athletes, especially women."

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