Guercif, a provincial capital in Morocco’s Oriental region, opened its gates on Friday evening to the second edition of the International Festival of Traditional Sports and Games, drawing delegations from roughly 35 countries for a two-day celebration of the world’s intangible sporting heritage.
The gathering, organized by the Royal Moroccan Federation of Sport for All alongside Guercif’s provincial authorities and under the umbrella of the International Sport for All Federation (TAFISA), was deliberately timed to coincide with two dates heavy with national meaning: the first anniversary of Eid al-Wahda, Morocco’s Unity Day, and the 51st anniversary of the Green March. Organizers framed the festival as a living tribute to both occasions, using folk games as a vehicle for national pride.
Friday’s opening ceremony combined folkloric performances with the presence of several Moroccan sporting icons, setting a festive tone before competitions got underway. Among the most closely watched events was a tug-of-war contest, which the Moroccan team won against international rivals, to the delight of the home crowd.
Addressing participants, the president of Morocco’s Sport for All federation underlined the festival’s role in keeping ancestral games alive, a message echoed by Moroccan and Omani delegates who praised the event’s unifying spirit. The festival runs alongside Guercif’s 33rd Olive Festival, giving visitors a rare combination of cultural and agricultural attractions in a single weekend, and several individuals and institutions were honored for their contribution to preserving these traditions.
Behind the public festivities, an international academic seminar brought together researchers and federation officials to examine the cultural, educational and social value of traditional games. Speakers called for systematic documentation of these practices and their transmission to younger generations, including through school physical education programs. Discussions also touched on games specific to Morocco’s eastern region and on Saharan sporting heritage, with participants urging further research into women’s traditional games, an area they described as understudied.
By hosting this gathering, Guercif positions itself, if briefly, at the crossroads of local heritage and international exchange, at a moment when Morocco is placing renewed emphasis on national cohesion and cultural continuity.
