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Rabat- The Moroccan Sports Press Association (AMPS) and the Moroccan Games and Sports (MDJS) recently renewed their partnership agreement.
The updated accord, signed on Monday at the MDJS headquarters, underscores a collaborative effort aimed at advancing Morocco’s sporting ambitions.
First established in 2010, the partnership has seen the implementation of various initiatives geared towards supporting AMPS activities and endorsing MDJS endeavors in promoting national sports, the two organizations said in a joint statement.
Younes El Mechrafi, the General Director of MDJS, expressed pride in the partnership’s achievements thus far.
“The renewal of this partnership reaffirms the trust and shared values between MDJS and AMPS, and by extension, with the Moroccan sports media community,” the joint statement quoted El Mechrafi as saying.
This reinforced collaboration would be instrumental in championing national sports causes, including the upcoming AFCON 2025 and the highly anticipated World Cup 2030, he emphasized.
Between 2023 and 2025, approximately 9.5 billion Moroccan dirhams will be allocated for investment projects aimed at refurbishing Moroccan stadiums to meet CAF standards.
A second phase of upgrades to align with FIFA standards will take place between 2025 and 2028, with a budget ranging from 4.5 to 6 billion dirhams.
Badreddine El Idrissi, President of AMPS, expressed pride in the enduring legacy and role model status of the partnership, now spanning 14 years.
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He also commended MDJS for its increased annual support to the National Sports Development Fund (FNDS), which he attributed to its effective governance, transparent spending, efficient policies, and a series of innovations in responsible betting systems that align with international standards while actively combating illegal practices.
El Idrissi also pointed out significant challenges facing MDJS, particularly the looming threat posed by illegal betting syndicates, which are thriving worldwide and are unfortunately finding ground in Morocco.
He emphasized the urgent need for Morocco to ratify the convention on the manipulation of sports competitions known as the Macolin Convention.
While this convention is the only international legal instrument to combat match-fixing and illegal betting operations operated by transnational criminal networks, Morocco is to date the only African nation to have signed it in 2021.
El Idrissi reaffirmed his association’s dedication to collaborating with all national sports institutions to shield MDJS from criminal activities and safeguard Moroccans from the perils of corrupt and illegal betting syndicates.
This commitment underscores a collective effort to ensure the integrity of Moroccan sports and uphold the values of fair play and transparency in athletic pursuits, he concluded.
