(ATR) Morocco has reportedly agreed to host the 2019 African Games, giving the event a host with just one year to prepare.
The Association of National Olympic Committees from Africa formalized an agreement to organize the 12th edition of the Games last year in Prague. Since then the group has struggled to find a host for the quadrennial continental event. At the time of the agreement, Equatorial Guinea was floated as a potential host for the Games.
Morocco had been discussed as a potential host on short notice due to its existing sporting infrastructure, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports approved hosting the event, according to a report from Morocco World News.
Requests for comment from the ministry were not immediately returned. A representative from ANOCA responded to Around the Rings’ request for confirmation saying "we are awaiting feedback" from a commission dispatched to Morocco.Previously, ANOCA said the commission would "have an answer in the coming days" about the country’s ability to host.
The report said that Morocco agreed to host at behest of the African Union, which is one of the three parties in the new agreement with ANOCA. Previously the Association of African Sports Confederations organized the African Games.
Hosting the Games would also bring Morocco back into the African Games fold. Morocco last participated in the 1978 African Games. The country left the predecessor of the African Union in 1984 after the organization recognized the independence of Western Sahara, which Morocco considers part of its territory. The next African Games were not held between 1978 and 1987 but have taken place every four years since.
Morocco bid for the 2026 FIFA World Cup but lost to a joint bid from Canada, Mexico and the United States. The country says it intends to bid for the 2030 World Cup.
Written by Aaron Bauer
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