Activités

AISEP 2005: wholehearted patronage

Adolf Ogi officially receives from Mohamed Benjelloun his invitation to integrate Morocco in the International Year of Sport and Physical Education (IYSPE 2005).

Decreed the ‘International year of sport and physical education in favour of development and peace’ (AISEP) by the General Meeting of the United Nations, 2005 was to enable Mohamed Benjelloun to channel all his enthusiasm and determination into serving a fine and noble cause. He therefore naturally turned to Mr. Adolf Ogi, former Federal Councillor, appointed Special Counsel to the General Secretary of the United Nations.

His support was to take many forms: Mohamed Benjelloun determined different needs and made various proposals. He sponsored the direction of an international film dedicated to the Year of Sport, a film made professionally by a Swiss company renowned in the making of films dedicated to sustainable development issues, DEV-TV. He also facilitated the transfer of Mr. Adolf Ogi to Morocco, who received an official welcome worthy of a head of State. Mohamed Benjelloun also facilitated the creation of sport competitions in Morocco and supported various sports infrastructure projects in favour of disadvantaged youth.

The Foundation, a logical conclusion

The energy and resources expended by this businessman sensitive to humanitarian issues, wholeheartedly and personally committed to charitable works, naturally continued until the end of 2005.

Spurred on by his wife, children and brother, Mohamed Benjelloun took a new initiative, to ensure that the hope and ideals raised by AISEP did not falter: to create a foundation aimed notably at promoting peace and development through sport. The Mohamed Benjelloun Foundation therefore came into being in December 2005.

The Mohamed Benjelloun Foundation can already boast several achievements, including its support for a football tournament in Egypt, the equipment of infrastructures in Fez (Morocco) and the supply of sporting equipment for associations in various countries, notably Africa.