Sport can provide a positive image of a nation to the international community. Studies on specific cases have shown that sport, especially football, can positively contribute to strengthening national pride and forming a cohesive national identity.
The contribution sport can make towards peace-building efforts has generally been considered at the grassroots and nation state levels. At the grassroots or community level, sport can be seen to provide a useful way of creating an environment in which people can come together to work towards the same goal, show respect for others and share space and equipment.
The Clubs’ World Cup, which took place in Agadir and Marrakesh in Morocco, is a prime example of how football and sport can transform an entire nation. Moroccans from all spectrums have shown an unprecedented unity and solidarity. During the ten days of the sporting event, the color in Morocco was green and only one name was shouted out loud: Raja!
The football club Raja of Casablanca became the national icon for more than ten days, a symbol of unityin Morocco’s multi-layered society. Moroccans all over the globe were glued to their screens watching the historic epic the Moroccan club orchestrated on the pitch, without realizing they were witnessing the fate of the whole nation.
The performance of the team has restored the pride Moroccans have always sought since the glorious performance of the Moroccan national team in Mexico in 1986. Moroccan streets were flooded by ordinary Moroccans who came together to form a wonderful symphony in perfect harmony with a strong sense of belonging to a great nation. Every Moroccan should hold his head up high.
What other impacts have this sporting event had on Morocco? The answer is simple. It has focused world attention on Morocco. The games were watched in all corners of the world, and the whole world witnessed the great strides the country made in ensuring a successful event. Security, the main concern in every international event, was not an issue during the ten days of the “Mondialito.” There were no recorded incidents threatening the security of the visiting delegations. Morocco comported itself with excellence, ensuring the safety of guests, whether officials, investors, or tourists. The Moroccan authorities worked tirelessly to maintain law and order within the society.
Security in general is not a concern in Morocco, as this high profile event proved. The door is open to foreign investors to explore new ventures and opportunities, thereby enhancing the labor market in Morocco and decreasing unemployment, and of course, resulting in greater funds to the government’s coffers.
Politically speaking, the whole world watched how advanced Morocco has become. Holding the event in Southern cities was the best decision to promote Morocco’s proposed plan for autonomy in the Southern territories. This will make the world realize that Morocco is taking the developments in its entire territories quite seriously, and the Moroccan Sahara is no different from any other region in the Kingdom.
For the very first time in the U.S. media history, the Fox News Channel broadcasted a [full Moroccan map with the Sahara [what does this mean?]. This is an exclusive diplomatic achievement, and it is now down to Moroccan diplomacy to capitalize on this event and promote the sole effective solution for the conflict in the Southern territories, which is the autonomy of the region under Moroccan sovereignty.
All in all, Morocco should pride itself on the brilliant atmosphere it has created to promote its image worldwide. Perhaps sooner than many might think, Morocco will become the Mecca for investors and a prime tourism destination. However, the governing authority should consider a more appealing and eye-catching opening ceremony for the next tournament to be held in December 2014, not like the disastrous one the world witnessed during the opening of 2013 edition of the FIFA Club World Cup, which almost made Morocco a laughing stock until the club of Raja acted quickly to make the world forget about it. And despite losing the final game, Raja will be remembered for a very long time for its performance, and for bringing the entire nation together, a nation that stood together for over a thousand years and no force throughout history could divide it.
I hope politicians have learned something in the last ten days from this event, and realize that the only way to progress and develop is by sticking and work together regardless of political and ideological differences. We are after all Moroccans, and Morocco is way bigger than any one entity, political party or single person.
Morocco’s future is bright.
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