Rabat to Celebrate Para-Athletics with the 10th Grand Prix Moulay El Hassan
From April 23 to 25, 2026, Rabat will be the vibrant center of para-athletics as it hosts the tenth edition of the Grand Prix Moulay El Hassan at the Olympic Stadium complex. This prestigious event is set to welcome nearly 500 athletes from 58 different countries, showcasing their talents on an international stage.
This competition is a key stop on the World Para Athletics circuit and has the esteemed High Patronage of King Mohammed VI, in collaboration with the Ministry of National Education, Preschool, and Sports. The significance of this edition is amplified as it serves as a qualifying event for the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, with many elite athletes aiming to meet the required standards for participation.
Hamid Aouni, the president of the Royal Moroccan Federation of Sports for People with Disabilities, emphasized that this edition marks a pivotal moment, as it is being organized in Rabat for the first time after several years in Marrakech. He also commended the high-quality facilities at the Olympic Stadium, which are conducive to athletic performance.
Building Towards the Future of Para-Athletics
In addition to the athletic competitions, the event will feature several parallel activities, including a training session focused on medical classification in para-athletics and a scientific symposium on April 21 and 22. This symposium will gather international experts to discuss performance, sports medicine, psychology, and nutrition, aiming to raise awareness among students and stakeholders about the importance of inclusive sports.
Mounir Sahnoun, the national technical director, revealed that high-level delegations from Brazil, Japan, China, and Tunisia will join the Moroccan team at this event. With Morocco having previously excelled in the last edition, clinching 36 medals, the nation enters this year's competition with ambitious goals, striving to maintain its leadership while incorporating young talents from the U17 and U20 categories to ensure a bright future for para-athletics in Morocco.
A total of approximately 120 events are scheduled, covering various categories of disabilities, including races, jumps, and throws. The event will also mobilize a significant human resource contingent, featuring around 100 referees, equally many organizers, 150 volunteers, and about 15 health professionals. Through this edition, Rabat reinforces its status as an international sports hub while contributing to the promotion of inclusive sports and high-performance athletics.
As reported by fr.hespress.com.
