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City Guide - Marrakech - Sport | ||
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Sport Morocco led the rest of Africa when it came to falling under the grip of soccer fever and was the first African nation to qualify for the World Cup finals in 1970. Morocco's impressive performance in the 1998 World Cup finals and the country's success in the African Nations Cup during the 1990s has emphasised the depth of quality to be found among the country's top players. Consequently, the country has several high-class teams, among them Kawkab Marrakech (web site: www.kacm.org), which is one of Africa's leading sides. More information about professional football in Morocco can be obtained from the Federation Royale Marocaine de Football (tel: (07) 672 706). Golf: The late King Hassan II was an excellent golfer, which probably explains why Morocco has some of the best courses in Africa. Two of the finest near Marrakech are the Golf de la Palmeraie course, Les Jardins de la Palmeraie (tel: (04) 301 010; fax (04) 305 050; web site: www.pgp.co.ma), and the Royal Golf Club, Ancienne Route de Ouarzazate (tel: (04) 444 341; fax (04) 430 084). A round of 18 holes costs Dh400 at the Palmeraie course and Dh300 at the Royal Golf Club. Skiing: From early December until March, enough snow settles on the Atlas Mountains to provide skiing. The ski resort of Oukaïmeden, the highest in Morocco, is just 90 minutes south of Marrakech by grand taxi. With seven ski lifts, it is the best equipped in Africa. Equipment can be hired for the day, although prices will be a lot higher here than in Marrakech. The Royal Moroccan Ski and Mountain Federation, Parc de la Ligue Arabe, Casablanca (tel: (02) 203 798; web site: www.skiin.com/static/resorts/resort.pl/oukaim-main2.en.html) can provide information. |