'Run for fun' women race hopes to attract 20,000 participants

The "run for fun" women race taking place annually in Casablanca hopes to attract 20,000 participants for its 7th edition slated next Sunday.

Moroccan Olympic champ and chairwoman of the Moroccan association Sport and Development, Nawal El Mutawakil said the organizing committee has so far received 15,000 registrations.

Women from all Moroccan cities and from several foreign countries, in addition to a team representing the International Olympic Committe and a team of 25 athletes representing a major brand of sports items are expected to participate in the race. The company, sponsoring the 25-member team, will carry out in Morocco a project to promote women sports.

This year's race coincides with the marking of 2005 as the UN international year for sports and physical education.

The first "run for fun" race was held in 1993 with the participation of 2,000 competitors. After a halt of several years, the race resumes in 2001. Since then, it has been attracting increasing numbers of participants (14,500 in 2004).