Assahafa.com
A conference-debate on sports diplomacy was recently held in Bordeaux to celebrate Morocco’s hosting of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), organized by the Moroccan Consulate General in the city in partnership with the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Council.
The meeting mainly aimed to highlight “Morocco as the host country of a modern, ambitious and structuring AFCON, the strategic role of sport as a tool for soft power, international influence and territorial cooperation,” and to present the progress made by the Kingdom in the field of sport, both in terms of infrastructure and governance.
The conference, which brought together local elected officials, institutional representatives, community leaders, members of the diaspora, and prominent figures from the diplomatic, sporting, cultural, and media spheres, was structured around two round tables. These are “Sport as a tool for soft power and international influence,” focused on the 2025 African Cup of Nations as a structuring project for the Kingdom, and “Sport, youth and sustainable development,” highlighting the contribution of sport to social cohesion, inclusion, training, job creation, and the role of youth and diasporas in regional development.
The hosting of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco is a landmark event that goes far beyond sports to demonstrate the Kingdom’s organizational capabilities, the quality of its infrastructure, as well as the strategic vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, based in particular on South-South cooperation and continental solidarity,” said Nouzha Sahel, Consul General of Morocco in Bordeaux, on this occasion.
For his part, President of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Council Alain Rousset emphasized that his region has “a long-standing relationship with the Kingdom, based on cooperation between territories and the sharing of experiences,” “more specifically with the Souss Massa region.”
During the meeting, tribute was paid to several athletes, including world boxing champion Francis Tchouffo, US Tyrosse manager Adel Fellah, and professional soccer player Lassina Diabaté, for their contribution to the discussions and their commitment to sporting values.
Source: map
