The Moroccan national wrestling team is set to compete in Israel this month in a tournament organized by the Jewish state. According to the Israeli press, this participation comes within the framework of the warming of Israel’s ties with certain Arab nations which are bearing fruit in the world of sport.
The tournament, which will take place in the southern city of Beersheba on August 25 and 26, commemorates the 50th anniversary of the events that took place during the 1972 Munich Olympics. The organizers have named the tournament “The Slavin, Halfen, Weinberg & Gottfreund Memorial”.
Morocco’s team will include at least eight athletes and 10 other delegation members, including senior officials from the International Federation of Associated Wrestling, the international governing body for amateur wrestling, Israeli organizers said.
The Royal Moroccan Federation of Associated Struggles (FRMLA) said in a letter that it had accepted the Israeli team’s invitation to the tournament, and the Israeli press continued, adding that the Moroccan government is funding the team’s participation. “May sport always serves peace in the world and conviviality between nations,” said Moroccan representative Fouad Meskout, president of the African Council for World Wrestling.
The unofficial title of the tournament is “Wrestle for Peace”. The Moroccan team and the Israeli Wrestling Federation will also sign an agreement on continuing education and competition together, Israeli organizers said.
