At 51, Moroccan Nawal El Moutawakel is today one of the most influential women in the international sports movement, vice-president of the IOC and the IAAF. Less than a month before the General Assembly of the Olympic institution in Buenos Aires, she answered questions from FrancsJeux.
FrancsJeux : Six men are currently campaigning for the IOC presidency. Why didn’t you apply?
Nawal El Moutawakel: I decided that now was not the right time for me to run. I want to continue to serve the Olympic movement, within this organization which has given me so much. I believe that I could better serve the person who will take the reins of the IOC and bring experience acquired over almost a quarter of a century now.
Despite everything, can you imagine one day a woman chairing the IOC or FIFA?
I think all organizations today need a female element. This is essential in any project, whatever its size. Women have shown that they are capable of carrying out quite a few projects in society. Today they are lawyers, heads of state... And they are making their way in sports organizations. Since 1995, the IOC has organized conferences, congresses, training sessions and working groups to enable women to take their place in institutions. At the London Games, for the first time in the history of the Olympic movement, 35 countries had more women than men in their delegation.
How is the French-speaking world doing in the international sports movement?
She is doing well. La Francophonie is associated, as an observer, with the Olympic Games. This is an excellent thing. But it is true that, of the six candidates for the presidency of the IOC, only one is French-speaking, the Swiss Denis Oswald. We could want more, but we must continue to work and act so that the French language maintains the place it should have in the international sporting landscape.
Will your country, Morocco, apply to organize major international sporting events in the near future?
In 2014, we are organizing the Football Club World Cup. Our dream is to be able to host regional games, such as the Mediterranean Games, those of the Francophonie or the Arab Games. We would like to demonstrate that Africa is today capable of organizing a global event.
What, in your opinion, are the respective strengths and assets of the three candidate cities for the 2020 Olympic Games?
What I can tell you is that the three candidate cities are all capable of organizing the Olympic Games. We listened to their representatives, we measured their mobilization. Istanbul, Madrid and Tokyo are not their first candidates. Their teams have now mastered the ropes, they know how to present themselves, how to convince the people of the Olympic committee. The novelty for this election was the invitation made by the IOC to these three cities to present themselves and present their file in Lausanne in July. Today, IOC members know enough about each other’s projects, ambitions and vision to make a decision.
Photo Credit: Getty Images for Laureus
