RABAT, Oct. 9 (Xinhua)-- African athletics national governing bodies gathered Monday to discuss the prospects of track and field athletes at the 27th Congress of the Confederation of African Athletics in the Moroccan city of Skhirat.
King Mohammed VI said at the congress, "In many events, African athletes have been the best in the world, thrilling us all with new records and superb performances."
The king added that, noting nevertheless, these positive elements should not obscure the fact that, by and large, track and field in our African countries remains structurally dysfunctional.
"Such a situation can be overcome only if we adopt a well thought-out strategy to keep abreast of successive developments in world athletics," he called.
"This strategy must be based on good governance, the honing of talents, capacity building through modern training and coaching systems, the consolidation and upgrading of infrastructure and efforts to reconcile grassroots athletics with elite track and field," the king insisted.
The three-day Congress of the Confederation of African Athletics was previously planned for from Oct. 2-4 in Dakar.
