The Royal Moroccan Athletics Federation (FRMA) held a press conference on Thursday in Rabat to present the 7th Rabat International Marathon (MIR), set to take place on April 21.
During the press conference, the MIR organizing committee announced that this year’s main innovation are modifications to the route affecting the starting and finishing points of the marathon, half-marathon, and 10 km races, as well as the visited sites, including the capital’s historical and cultural monuments.
Mohamed Ghozlane, the Secretary-General of the FRMA, highlighted the MIR’s contributions in promoting Morocco and its capital Rabat, known as the “City of Lights” and also classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as the host.
Ghozlane noted that the Marathon’s reputation has grown with the achievement of an outstanding ranking, having risen from 44th to 23rd in the World Athletics Federation’s top 140 marathon rankings.
“The MIR earned the Label of Excellence on the African continent, thanks to its high-quality organization, widespread participation, and achieved records, surpassing 22,000 participants from both genders,” explained the official.
Abdellah Boukraâ, a member of the FRMA Technical Committee, reported on Rabat’s International Marathon’s qualitative progress over the years and its international ranking, currently holding a position among the world’s major marathons.
Participation by Moroccan runners in the marathon is expected to be significant due to the presence of Othmane El Goumri, the national record holder, and Zouhair Talbi, who won first place at the Houston Marathon in January, Boukraâ stated.
He added that the MIR serves as a real testing ground and an important stage for Moroccan runners, especially during the months leading up to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris this Summer.