Omnium Nord Africain Corp. contributes to Morocco's World Cup bid

Morocco's largest private group, Omnium Nord Africain (ONA) has agreed to contribute to Morocco's bid to host the 2006 World Cup.

Under a convention concluded with the Maroc-2006 Association, ONA paid two million Dirhams ($200,000) as a contribution to promote the bid.

Morocco's telecom company, Ittissalat Al-Maghreb, the national carrier RAM, BMCE Bank, oil company SOMEPI and the Casablanca water supply firm (LYDEC) already agreed to pay the same amount to the Maroc Mondial 2006 Association which promotes the bid.

Morocco is competing with fellow African nation South Africa, as well as Germany, England and Brazil to host the World Cup.

The association seeks to collect $2.2 million to finance a worldwide campaign to glean backing for Morocco's bid.

This is the third time that Morocco bids for hosting the World Cup. The two previous bids (1994, 1998) were lost to the USA and France.