Seven Moroccan cities will host the 12th African Games

Morocco hosts of the 2019 African Games, has listed the seven cities that will host the continent’s multi-sports event, next month.

The Games, fixed for August 19 to 31, would be organized in the cities of Salé, Rabat, Temara, Casablanca, El Jadida, Mohammedia and Benslimane.

The choice of the cities was based on the quality of sporting facilities and adequate accommodation for the various disciplines, which are attending the event.

The event, would feature the participation of 6,500 athletes, 1,500 technical executives and heads of delegations, as well as 2,000 volunteers who will accompany the participants throughout the competition, a total of about 15,000 people.

Mr. Rachid Talbi Alami, the Minister of Youth and Sports, at a press conference said "The Kingdom of Morocco faced a major challenge by organizing and preparing, in eight months for the Games, but added that on a request from the African Union, Morocco agreed to host this major continental sporting event.

He noted that the preparations for the Games, however, had reached a progress rate of over 95%.

The minister noted that Morocco would greatly benefit from the African Games, noting that the facilities built for the event would allow the Kingdom to offer athletes of high level in different disciplines.

He said the Kingdom and other partners were determined to make the Games a qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games or a step to collect the qualifying points for the Olympiads, in order to attract the greatest number distinguished athletes at the African level.

The African Games is organized every four years. The capital of Congo Brazzaville hosted the first edition in 1965 and the last in 2015, while that of 2023 would be hosted by Ghana.