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10 Things To Know About Morocco’s Olympic Participation

10 Things To Know About Morocco’s Olympic Participation

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Three African nations sent athletes to the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics this year, but only one of these countries, Morocco, also represents the Arab world. Here are 10 things to know about Morocco’s Olympic participation.

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www.le360.ma

1. Morocco has two athletes competing at Sochi

Two athletes are skiing for the North African nation at Sochi. They are Adam Lamhamedi and Kenza Tazi, both 18.

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www.stephenssportingalmanac.blogspot.com

2. Both are Alpine Skiers

Adam Lamhamedi and Kenza Tazi will both be competing in the slalom and giant slalom events.

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www.kansas.com

3. Neither was born in Morocco

Adam Lamhamedi was born in Montreal, while Kenza Tazi was born in Boston. Both athletes consider themselves Moroccan, the Arab Daily News reports.

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www.lapresse.ca

4. One has dual citizenship

Adam Lamhamedi has dual citizenship. His father is Moroccan, his mother is Canadian and the family still keeps a house in Morocco.

Source: http://thearabdailynews.com/2014/02/06/arabs-play-small-role-sochi-olympic-games

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www.hellotravel.com

5. Both have been skiing since a young age

Kenza Tazi joined her first skiing club at age 12, but got serious in 2007 when her family moved to the French Alps and she was able to start skiing competitively. Lamhamedi grew up skiing in the Quebec Mountains.

Source: http://thearabdailynews.com/2014/02/06/arabs-play-small-role-sochi-olympic-games/

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www.onelebanon.com

6. Morocco isn’t only Arab nation competing

Lebanon is also sending two alpine skiers to Sochi. And there will be a total of 15 Middle Eastern athletes competing at this year’s Olympic Games. Iran is sending five athletes and Turkey is sending six.

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www.flagpedia.net

7. Not Morocco’s first Winter Olympic appearance

Morocco has actually participated in five different Winter Olympics: 1968, 1984, 1988. 1992 and 2010.

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www.samir-azzimani.fr

8. Last time around Morocco only had one athlete

At the Vancouver games in 2010, alpine skier Samir Azzimani represented the country as its sole contender.

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www.sfgate.com

9. Regular Summer Games player

Morocco first competed in the Summer Olympics in 1960 and has sent athletes to nearly every summer competition since, with two exceptions: 1976 and 1980 when it boycotted the games in New Zealand and Moscow. Over the years the country has picked up 18 medals in the summer games. It has never placed in the winter games, however.

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businesstech.co.za

10. African nations have participated in every Winter Olympics since 1984

Although Morocco’s Winter Olympic participation was in 1968, it wasn’t until 1984 that African nations began consistently sending athletes to the Winter Games. But since Senegal sent skier Lamine Gueye to Sarajevo in 1984, no winter Olympics have passed without representation from at least one African nation!

Source: www.afritorial.com/african-athletes-at-sochi-winter-olympic-games/