As the Moroccan education system strives to provide an adequate environment in the learning process of the students, it also attempts to include leisure activities to widen the creative space of students to enable them to freely develop their skills and unleash their talents.
School Olympiads, a series of fiercely competitive and intellectually stimulating contests, have transformed traditional learning paradigms, fostering a generation of students who are not only learners but also innovators.
As part of these activities, The Hassania School of Public Works (EHTP) in Casablanca organized the 17th EHTP Olympiad from April 19-21 in Casablanca.
On Friday, the school hosted a conference entitled, “The 2030 World Cup: A Major Socioeconomic and Cultural Development for Morocco.”
Marked by the participation of a plethora of sports professionals and experts, this conference looked to promote creativity and teamwork among students through sports, art, and culture–while strengthening the ties between the university and society as a whole–as well as contemplating how football affects so many different facets of life in Morocco.
Speaking on this occasion, sports journalist Nawfel Al Awamleh provided an overview of the football situation in Morocco and highlighted the potential results of hosting the World Cup 2030 in various fields, including potential job opportunities emanating from this monumental event, the infrastructure, the volume of tourists, and the unprecedented level of security.
Hassan Fekkak, the sports director of the Moroccan National Olympic Committee (CNOM), noted that Morocco hosting the 2030 World Cup along with Spain and Portugal offers numerous advantages. He emphasized, “Morocco has applied several times and has shown perseverance, resilience, and improvement to secure the hosting of this global event.”
Encouraging everyone to positively engage in this ambitious project that concerns all Moroccans, he highlighted the extraordinary opportunity for our country in hosting the World Cup, economically, culturally, and socially.
Fekkak also explained that this global event will bring about significant financial and economic benefits with a clear value added in the short and medium term, positioning Morocco as a global showcase during the event.
Ayoub Koutaya, a research professor at the Institute of Sports Sciences at Hassan I University, asserted that hosting the 2030 World Cup proves that Morocco has reached organizational maturity, as the country will benefit from this event not only in terms of attracting investments, but by using this success as a springboard for other global hosting opportunities
Regarding the social aspect, Koutaya said that Moroccans will gain social cohesion, which is represented in the Moroccan identity and culture.
He also highlighted the “material and immaterial legacy” that Morocco will gain from this event–as well as the country’s enhanced reputation–pointing out that besides the financial benefits generated during and after the World Cup, Morocco will also acquire assets in terms of sports infrastructure and facilities, along with the increase in football practitioners and the skills developed at all levels.
Koutaya further noted that by hosting such events, the hashtag “Morocco” would also present an upward trend on social media and newspapers. He emphasized the fact that Morocco, as the host country, needs to pay particular attention to enhancing the experience of “fans,” which includes addressing issues such as hooliganism.
Karim Adyel, a lawyer specializing in international football law and an arbitrator at the Court of Arbitration for Sport who attended the aforementioned conference online, stated that hosting the 2030 World Cup is a historic event for Morocco and Moroccan football.
In illustrating the impact of such an event on the economy, he explained that in Q4 of 2022, Qatar’s GDP surged by 8% thanks to the World Cup, while South Korea, the host of the 2002 edition, experienced a significant real GDP growth of 7% compared to the levels recorded in 2001, 2003, and 2004.
In emphasizing that the preparation strategy for this World Cup is not yet complete, Adyel, a university professor at the Academy of Leadership Sciences (Switzerland), called for providing the organization of the 2030 World Cup with a comprehensive development project to ensure that the entire national territory benefits from the economic repercussions of this global event, both socially and culturally.
Al Awamleh, whose profession lies in sports journalism, told BarlamanToday that it is a beautiful thing to have an exchange of expertise and information, as well as providing a forum by which to open the floor to questions from students.
“Such seminars held in schools, institutes, and universities are a positive step towards openness to the surrounding environment and its reflection on students’ personalities, as it enhances their knowledge and awareness, as well as the fact that it takes them out of the daily routine of the academic learning process,” he added.
Badr El Hatimi, Director of Continuing Training at the EHTP, told us that the school is organizing the 17th edition of the Olympiad, with the participation of nearly 1,000 engineering students from higher education institutions across the national territory.
“As an institution specializing in engineering, particularly civil engineering, we prepare our students to take on the responsibility of building infrastructure and stadiums to host international events,” El Hatimi noted. “This initiative aims to develop well-rounded individuals who are not only academically competent but also physically and culturally aware.”
In addition to the academic aspect, the school has organized sports and recreational activities to promote openness to both the sports and cultural dimensions, fostering greater engagement with the community, he added.
“The significant project of the World Cup 2030 presents a valuable chance for our nation. It offers the sports industry and economic institutions an opportunity to tackle formidable challenges,” said Youssef Boujlid, Founder of Olive Agency, Secretary General of the Moroccan Federation of Sports Professionals, and Chairperson of the Corporate Sports Commission at the Moroccan Preschool Foundation (FMPS).
For this year’s edition, the EHTP organized tournaments in football, volleyball, basketball, and chess, among others. There were also board games, ultras show, crash fire, billiards, and drift, along with other events.
“I am a third-year electrical engineer in EHTP and a member of the organizing committee. This event gathers sports, arts, and fun. It is an event where students from all over Morocco meet and exchange knowledge and enjoy music and food,” an EHTP student said.
A student of the School of Textile and Clothing Industries (ESITH) said that he is honored to attend the event at EHTP and that he enjoyed the atmosphere, affirming that he will be present at upcoming events, as well.