The 1st Youth and Future Olympics in Bouznika, a competition of national scale that invites the elite of national sports practitioners, men and women aged 15 to 17.

The kick-off of the 1st Youth and Future Olympics, organised by the Moroccan National Olympic Committee (CNOM) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, was given on Thursday evening at the Moulay Rachid Youth and Childhood Complex in Bouznika.

The opening ceremony, held in the presence of the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mohand Laenser, the General of the Army Corps Hosni Benslimane, President of the CNOM, and Nawal El-Moutawakel, First Vice-President of the International Olympic Committee, was marked by the presentation of the participating teams, martial arts demonstrations and artistic performances, hosted by young people.

Scheduled from 10 to 13 September in Rabat under the theme "Together for the Olympic dream", this competition of national scale, officially launched by Mohand Laenser, will pit the elite of Moroccan sports practitioners in the 15-17 age group against each other.

Thus, nearly 750 athletes will participate in these 1st Olympics in 16 sports disciplines, including football (Men and Women) at the Stade Marocain and Al Amal Complex, 3-a-side basketball (Men and Women) at the Bouznika National Centre, handball (Men) at the Ibn Yassine hall, volleyball (Men and Women) at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Complex hall, tennis (Men and Women), table tennis (Men and Women) at the Stade Marocain hall, athletics (Men and Women) at the Moulay Abdellah Complex annex and wrestling (Men) at the Al Amal Complex hall.

The programme also includes boxing (Men and Women) at the Sitel Aissaoui Takaddoum hall, taekwondo (Men and Women) at the Bouazzaoui Hall (Salé), judo (Men and Women) at the Bouazzaoui hall (Salé), fencing (Men and Women) at the Bouznika centre, badminton (Men and Women) at the Moulay Abdallah Complex annex hall, swimming (Men and Women) at the Moulay Rachid National Sports Centre, weightlifting (Men and Women) at the Derfoufi Témara Hall and cycling (Men and Women) on the Sala El-Jadida circuits (road) and between Bouznika and Benslimane (time trial).

In a statement to the MAP, Mohand Laenser stressed that this proactive approach by the CNOM and the Ministry of Youth and Sports aims to value the nursery of young Moroccan talents in the chosen sports disciplines and to forge strong links among the members of the Moroccan Olympic team, adding that this competition is a true showcase of the potential of Moroccan sporting youth.

Morocco, which possesses a pool of human potential, is proud of a youth full of ambition, overflowing with talent and capable of meeting all challenges, the minister stressed, adding that this human capital, so rich in its diversity and talent, "is placed at the heart of our strategic concerns, in accordance with the guidelines of H.M. King Mohammed VI".

During three days of competition, which will be an opportunity to promote the values of sport among young people, Moroccans will have the privilege of seeing the hard core of the Moroccan Olympic team of the future at work, he affirmed.