Morocco 2010 FIFA World Cup Bid Newsletter 02

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NEWSLETTER JANUARY

2004

FEEL THE GAME IN THE MAGIC LAND OF MOROCCO !

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Lamia Boutaleb Qadiri Lamia Boutaleb Qadiri belongs in the new generation of young and talented managers whose competency and dynamism are indicative of the New Morocco.

After completing her studies (Advanced Commercial Studies Degree at Lausanne and MBA at Wharton), Lamia Boutaleb Qadiri joined the World Bank.

From her experience at the bank, she gained deep knowledge of the economic realities of Africa, where she completed several important missions.

Upon returning to Morocco, she was hired by financial group Wafa where she heads “Wafa Trust”, one of the nation’s largest investment banks.

Saad Kettani, President of Morocco 2010, called upon this brilliant woman to manage the Finance and Sponsorship division of the Morocco Bid Committee for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

Cover

: © O.N.M.T

Football

: © Sportis, © Badri

News

: © Teuler, © O.N.M.T, © Morocco 2010

Stadiums

: © DEP, © Morocco 2010

Fez

: © O.N.M.T, © Teuler

Other

: © Morocco 2010, © O.N.M.T

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Telephone

: +212 (0)22 50 93 80

Fax

: +212 (0)22 97 55 91

Email

: contact@morocco-2010.org

Web

: www.morocco-2010.org

Address

: Zenith Millenium – Immeuble N°1 – Lot. Attaoufik Sidi Maârouf – 20 650 Casablanca - Morocco

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The commitment to Morocco 2010 by these large organizations, including the Moroccan subsidiaries of some major multinationals such as ColgatePalmolive, Nestlé and McDonald's, has made it possible to enhance the financial credibility of Morocco's bid.

Some partners of Morocco 2010 decided to show their commitment to the country's bid in a very original fashion. For instance, Morocco's Post Office

will issue postal stamps and stamped envelopes in support of Morocco 2010. Furthermore, the national flag carrier, Royal Air Maroc, will project an in-flight promotional film presenting the Moroccan bid.

Several major consumer brands have already begun to place the Morocco 2010 logo on their packaging to underscore their support for Morocco's bid for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

Madjer, Rui Costa, Cafú, Hasselbaink, Inzaghi and Inamoto support Morocco 2010 Major football stars such as Cafu, Rui Costa, Hasselbaink, Inamoto, Inzaghi and former international star Madjer of Algeria support Morocco's bid to become the first African country to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

Rabah Madjer, the former star of Algeria's national team and FC Porto, the African player of the century (Union of African Players award) and the African Ballon d’Or in 1987, declared: “I have great respect for our Moroccan brothers.

This country is a first-class tourist destination offering all the guarantees necessary for hosting a marvellous World Cup.” The Portuguese player of AC Milan, Rui Costa, spoke favorably about the proximity of Morocco to Portugal and Europe, saying: “It would be wonderful for my fellow nationals to be able to attend the World Cup in person.”

Chelsea’s Dutch player, Jimmy Hasselbaink, who is very familiar with Morocco, added that the enthusiasm of Moroccans for football means an exceptional atmosphere is guaranteed for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. “Morocco really deserves this World Cup,” he concluded.

The international Japanese player Junichi Inamoto, who plays for the Fulham team in England, gave his support to Morocco, declaring that this country was one of his favorite vacation spots: “I am certain they will organize a marvellous, friendly and safe World Cup.” Brazilian world champions Cafu and Leonardo are also enthusiastic supporters of Morocco's bid.

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Morocco's corporate world supports Morocco 2010 Since the launch of the campaign in support of Morocco's bid to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, the nation's largest corporations have joined in a common effort to boost this national project.

Photos Credits

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Further football notables who support Morocco 2010 include Dario Simic (Croatia and AC Milan), Louis Saha (France and Fulham), and Pepe Guardiola (Spain and Al Ahly).

Morocco 2010 Partner of urban Football Matches EIn cooperation with sports associations and the local authorities, Morocco 2010 has sponsored some one hundred neighborhood football matches throughout the country over the past few months. Upwards of 15,000 young people took part in these matches.

In Morocco, a country where football is widespread, the tradition of urban matches is firmly established in local communities and large crowds attend these often sharply disputed games.

This year, the local neighborhood associations organizing these events wanted to take advantage of these efforts to mobilize young people around Morocco's bid.

It is the pleasure and love of football that motivates youth to take part in such matches where the prizes awarded are often nothing more than symbolic.

However, such matches were closely monitored by thousands of spectators, including some famous Moroccan footballers such as Bassir, Krimou, Haddaoui and Allali.

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Lisbon entranced by the Magic of Morocco In connection with the Final Draw for UEFA Euro 2004 in Lisbon, Morocco 2010 staged a gala in the sumptuous surroundings of Casa Alantejo, a 17th century jewel taking its inspiration from Arabo-Andalusian architecture. Entitled “Magic of Morocco,” this event was attended by several personalities in the football and media world.

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Marrakech entices Tour Operators from the U.S M. Richard Copland, President of the American Society of Travel Agents announced that Marrakech has been chosen to welcome the association's annual congress in 2005.

More than 6,000 people will take part in this important Congress.

Thanks to its magnificent hotels and impressive Convention Center (Palais des Congrès) Marrakech hosts international conferences on a regular basis.

To underscore the support of the Government of Morocco for the country's bid, Morocco's Minister of Tourism, M. Diouri, as well as Ms. Chekrouni, delegated Minister for Expatriate Nationals, attended this great celebration.

If Morocco is selected for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, Marrakech is proposed as the home of the FIFA Congress, headquarters, and site of the Opening Ceremonies and Opening Match.

M. Douiri noted that the new Morocco, whose infrastructures have seen extraordinary development since the launching in 2001 of “Vision 2010,” is ready to organize the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

New Version of the Morocco 2010 Internet Site

More than anything else this event was an occasion to celebrate the magic and wealth of Moroccan culture. After tasting the wonders of Moroccan cooking, the audience was offered a magnificent fashion show by professional models donned in superb traditional Caftans made of gold and silver threads. Celebrated Gnaoua musicians of Essaouira provided entertainment.

At the end of the evening at a press conference, Mr. Michel Platini declared, “The World Cup above all means the need to convince the 24 voting members of FIFA," adding that “the issue now at hand is where would the public like to see the World Cup held. Morocco is the country in the best position to be awarded this event.” His fellow countryman and President of the French Football Federation, Mr. Claude Simonet, expressed his support for Morocco's bid: “My heart and eyes are looking in the direction of Morocco.”

In early 2004 Morocco 2010 inaugurated a new version of its Internet site. This site, which is much more complete and user-friendly than the former one, will enable anyone interested in Morocco's bid to find out the principal facets of the technical bid.

One regularly updated column entitled “News” will provide periodic information on what is happening with the selection process for the choice of the country slated to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

Anyone who wishes to support Morocco's bid can do so in the visitor's log.

The site was inaugurated in French and English. The Arabic and Spanish versions are currently being completed.

Of ficial website address for Morocco 2010: http:///www.morocco-2010.org

Huge Success for Hassan II Golf Trophy

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S e c u r i t y Morocco's experience in the field of security has proven to be a determining factor in selecting the country for hosting major international events and a crucial element ensuring their ultimate success.

Thanks to well-grounded experience and extensive know-how, Morocco's security forces enjoy an excellent international reputation, and countless times, its services have been asked to participate in activities far beyond the country's national borders.

For many years, Morocco has been regularly selected to host some of the world's most prominent political, economic, cultural and sports events such as the Mediterranean Games, the Pan Arab Games, the Francophone Games, the African Nations Cup (Junior and Senior), the summits of Arab and

Muslim states, the World Economic Summit and the signing of the GATT Agreement.

The Moroccan security services have prepared an initial Operational Security Concept for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. This concept will serve as a basis for developing a final in-depth package.

International experts with great experience in designing security schemes for international sports events participated in the review process in connection with the different schemes.

For the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, Morocco is in a position to offer a friendly and safe environment for visitors looking forward to enjoy the spectacle afforded by the world's 32 best football teams.

H e a l t h Morocco's health infrastructure is prepared to handle the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ at the very highest standards. Further, an infrastructure development program initiated by the government continues to upgrade the health system throughout the country.

In addition to its medical infrastructures, Morocco offers a healthy environment to visitors and tourists, thanks to the very low incidence of the principal contagious diseases currently affecting Africa in the form of AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

In collaboration with one of the best international experts in event medical planning (FIFA Women’s World Cup, Olympic Games, and the U.S. Super Bowl), Morocco has developed a health concept for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. The utmost attention was given to the creation of a system designed to meet all requirements connected with health issues for all participants, making it possible to ensure a swift turnaround in all emergency situations.

The system set up by Morocco 2010 is founded on the juxtaposition of three levels of medical assistance: 1. Venue-specific Medical Care

From 9 to14 December 2003, the magnificent fairways of the Royal Golf Dar Es-Salam in Rabat hosted the 32nd edition of the Hassan II Golf Trophy. Prominent world golfers competed for the Trophy, finally won by Spain's Santiago Luna.

The Royal Golf Dar Es-Salam course, designed by Robert Trent Jones, is considered one of the world's most beautiful.

Morocco also offers several other golfing venues in all the nation’s major cities, making it a top ranking place for practice of this sport.

The attendees to 2010 FIFA World Cup™ will most certainly appreciate, between matches, being able to relax on a course standing right in the middle of the desert or set off by the rippling waves of the Atlantic Ocean.

a. Stadium Medical Care: These centers shall meet the needs for immediate health care for all participants inside and in the vicinity of the stadiums. b. Official Venue Medical Care. These are designed to meet the health care requirements of participants at the other official World Cup sites: • FIFA General Headquarters and hotels • Hotels of participant teams • Training grounds for participating teams • Main Media Center

2. Official Hospitals: Situated in the vicinity of the stadiums, these hospitals have been selected for the excellence of their facilities and medical staffs.

3. National Medical Centers of Excellence: these hospitals enjoy a national stature and have been selected to cover specific specialities.

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Idriss II founded the City of Fez in 808. The new capital of the Idrisside dynasty sat on a perfect spot between the mountains and on the banks of a rushing river (Wadi Fez).

Complexe Sportif de Fès

ln 818, several hundred Muslim families settled on the right bank of Wadi Fez, after having been expelled from Andalusia.

Seven years later, 300 Kerouan families established their homes on the opposite bank. The Andalousian Arabs brought with them their art and the experience of a civilization at the very peak of its glory.

The Kerouan people established the imposing and splendid El Qaraouiyîn mosque with its scintillating roof of emerald tiles in 857. It is the oldest centre of learning in the western world, predating even Oxford and the Sorbonne, and now one of the main intellectual centres of North Africa.

Agadir is one of Morocco’s top destinations

Launch of Construction of the new Stade d’Agadir

Although the Almohad and the Almoravid dynasties transferred their capital to Marrakech, Fez never stopped playing a major cultural and spiritual role. The Merinids made Fez their capital in 1248, and the city regained the former status it had lost under the Almohads and Almoravids in favor of Marrakech.

The construction works of the new Stade d’Agadir were launched on December 19th. At its completion in December 2007, the stadium will feature a gross capacity of 45,000 seats, of which 10,200 are under cover, including all FIFA delegation and media seating.

The striking design of Stade d’Agadir will create a landmark in one of the outstanding tourist destinations in Morocco, only 10 minutes from the resort areas at the coast. With the Stade de Marrakech and the Stade de Tanger, it is the third stadium currently under construction in the country.

After the fall of Granada in 1492, marking the end of the "Reconquista" of Andalusia, Fez became the principal heiress of hispano-moroccan civilization and remained, until the advent of the protectorate, the largest art metropolis of the Moslem West.

More than the people of any other Moroccan city, the Fassis (people of Fez) have preserved the aspects of medieval Islam society, maintaining their souqs, mosques and medersas, their corporative organizations, and their artisanal activities.

Morocco 2010 will organize the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ with nine stadiums. Three stadiums exist today: Mohammed V in Casablanca, Moulay Abdallah in Rabat and Complexe sportif de Fès. If the country is selected to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, it will only need to build three additional stadiums to meet all its organizational needs.

Each year, Fez hosts the world famous “Sacred Music Festival.”

The festival has rapidly become one the most important cultural events in the world and a meeting point for all the people who believe in inter-religious tolerance and understanding. Thus, Fez continues to act as Morocco's spiritual capital and embodies Morocco’s spirit of tolerance.

The excavation works commenced on December 24th

Fez in figures Population

1 053 000

Altitude above sea level (m)

300

Average monthly temperature (C°)

June July

21 26

Number of rainy days with rainfall of more than 5mm

June July

2 0

Number of beds in registered hotels Total number of beds available in Fez by 2010 Total number of beds available at less than 75 km

Today 2010

5 755 9 508 17 600 30 800

The construction of the Complexe Sportif de Fès was completed in 2002. It combines both modern convenience and classic Moroccan styling to create a perfect football environment.

A further modernization program will bring the total seating to 45,000 for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

The Stade of Agadir, at its completion in December 2007

Name

Stade d’Agadir

Total number of seats

45,000

Seats under cover

10,246

VIP seats

500

Media representatives

1,125

Places for disabled people

266

891,400 m3 of earthworks

Dimensions of the playing surface

Length : 105 m - Width : 68 m

51,200 m3 of concrete

Facts and figures

Total capacity

45,000

Date of construction

2002

Upgrading for 2010

July 2005 – December 2007

Type of playing surface

Natural grass

3,500 tons of concrete reinforcing steel

Distance from airport

15 km

Distance from airport

25 km

4,700 m3 of steel cover

Distance from city center

10 km

Distance from town center

5.5 km

3 giant cranes positions

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Histor y of Moroccan Football 1945 - 1956: THE ‘‘PERLE NOIRE’’ ERA Renowned by the end of a memorable game between Morocco and France (4-2) on April 12th, 1937, Larbi Ben Barek was the first Moroccan player to shine beyond his country’s borders. In 1939, he joined the Olympique Marseille and straight away joined the French team. After World War II, Ben Barek returned to European stadiums and his hundreds of thousands of fans. Several clubs (Stade Français, Atletico Madrid, Olympique de Marseille) and titles later, he skilfully ended his international career by outshining the German world champions in Hanover at the age of 40.

Thanks to Larbi Ben Barek and other football masters such as Abderrahmane Mahjoub, nicknamed the “Prince of the Park,” and Hassan Akesbi, Moroccan football was exported and became more competitive.

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Moroccan football totally prevailed in the North African, winning10 international titles between 1945 and 1956 and widely allowing for a comparison with professional European clubs. In 1950, Morocco beat the Spanish champions by scoring two goals to none, whereas the prominent Wydad Athletic Club, which had previously defeated all its regional opponents, fell in the 1/16th Final of the 1956 France Cup against AS Saint-Etienne and Rachid Mekhloufi (2-1 a.p).

Morocco owes such competitiveness both to its players and to several French, Yugoslavian and Hungarian coaches, who helped Moroccan footballers to exude their skills against brilliant teams from around the world: Lokomotiv Zagreb, Atletico Madrid, Bohemians of Prague, and in 1956, the spectacular team of Honved of Budapest and its great soloist, Ferenc Puskas.

Famous Moroccan Football Firsts

Ben Barek, the “Perle Noire”

First African country to qualify for a FIFA World Cup In 1970, Morocco became the first African nation to qualify for the final stage of the FIFA World Cup™.

Though drawing once and losing twice, the Atlas Lions earned tremendous respect after leading for 70 minutes against the German team of Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Muller, before finally losing, 2-1.

Morocco 1970

Just Fontaine

Ben Barek and Ferenc Puskas

Next month : 1960-1976, global recognition