10,000 Women Participated in Casablanca Run-for-Fun Race

Some 10,000 women and young girls aged between 10 and 76 participated Sunday in a 10-KM long run-for-fun race held in Casablanca.

Prince Moulay Rachid, younger brother of King Mohammed VI, chaired the prize awarding ceremony.

Moroccan athlete, Zhor Kamch, world champ of military cross country won the race with a timing of 33:21.36. She was followed by Naima Bara from the FUS of Rabat (35:11.09) and Hanane Bajaoui from Chabab Atlas Khenifra (35:42.06).

Awards were also handed to the oldest and youngest participants, Ms Lamni Zahra, 76, and Touria Sadik, 10.

The race, the third of the kind, was meant to foster women's awareness to the beneficial effects of sports, to provide opportunity to share moments of joy, courage and perseverance, and to promote the Moroccan women's condition in general.

Member of the International Olympic Committee Prince Albert of Monaco, who kicked off the race told MAP this race is an example to be followed by other countries of the world as such events promote women sports.

Chairman of the Qatari Athletics Union, General Dalhane, stars of Moroccan athletics (Said Aouita, Brahim Boutaleb, Nizha Bidouane.) former Olympic champ and chairwoman of the race organizing committee, Nawal Moutawakel, and several sport figures and officials attended the race while Moroccan minister in charge of women condition, Nouzha Chekrouni, women mps and executives of ngos participated in the race.

The first edition of the race was held in 1993 with the participation of some 2,000 runners while the second edition in 1994 gathered 5,000 participants.