Technical officials certified ahead of African Para Games

With just a few months from the Rabat 2020 African Para Games, participants from across the continent came together in the Moroccan capital city to gain certification as technical officials.

The course included a series of theorical and practical sessions that saw the participants applying their skills and knowledge of the sport.

“We did many activities to simulate the competition with athletes from the Moroccan national team present” said Boudjema Adjaoud, a participant from Algeria. “Judging their lifts with feedback from the educator helped me gain confidence in my abilities as a referee.”

Eighteen women and men from Algeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Senegal and hosts Morocco took part in the course from 11 to 13 October.

“The participants brought a lot of knowledge and passion to the course through their backgrounds as former athletes, coaches and administrators,” said Maria Milea, the course educator. 

“I’m eager for them to return home to share what they learnt and spread the sport.”

The educational course in Rabat was organised with the support of the German Federal Foreign Office with the goal to increase the number of technical officials and improve the technical expertise in the sport in the region ahead of the 2020 African Para Games.

“The course was a great opportunity to make an impact and encourage more people to get active and involved in the sport,” said Jorge Moreno, Head of World Para Powerlifting.

“World Para Powerlifting is greatful for the support of the German Federal Foreign Office in the funding and delivery of this course.”

The first edition of the African Para Games is set to take place from 26 to 31 January 2020.