FISpT Grants Official Patronage to the International Festival of Traditional Games in Morocco
The International Sport for All Federation (FISpT) is pleased to announce that its Board has approved the granting of official FISpT patronage to the International Festival of Traditional Games, which will take place from 5 to 8 November 2026 in Guercif, Kingdom of Morocco.
The Festival will be fully organised and managed by the Fédération Royale Marocaine du Sport pour Tous – Royal Moroccan Federation of Sport for All (FRMSPT) under the theme:
“Traditional Sports and Games: Heritage, Education, Inclusion and International Cooperation.”
The initiative will bring together sport leaders, Traditional Sports and Games practitioners, researchers, educators, cultural representatives, young people and invited delegations to celebrate traditional games as living expressions of cultural identity, collective memory and community participation. The programme will combine international and Moroccan traditional-games demonstrations, an expert conference, youth workshops, cultural performances, institutional meetings and the Women’s Victory Race.
By granting its patronage, FISpT recognises the Festival’s contribution to the preservation and promotion of Traditional Sports and Games and its alignment with the values of the international Sport for All movement.
The patronage reflects FISpT’s commitment to supporting initiatives that:
Preserve Traditional Sports and Games as living cultural heritage;
Encourage the transmission of knowledge between generations;
Promote accessible and inclusive physical activity;
Strengthen education through sport and traditional games;
Advance women’s and youth participation;
Foster dialogue between cultures and communities; and
Develop international cooperation among sport organisations, public institutions, researchers and traditional practitioners.
The Festival is a patronaged event of FISpT. The Fédération Royale Marocaine du Sport pour Tous, through its Local Organising Committee, retains full responsibility for the organisation and delivery of the Festival.
The Festival will be held in Guercif, in the north-eastern part of the Kingdom of Morocco. The city offers an appropriate setting for an initiative combining sport, culture, education and community participation.
The selection of Guercif reflects the organisers’ objective of bringing international sporting and cultural exchange to a region with a strong local identity and rich traditions. The Festival will also provide an opportunity for local communities and young people to participate directly in international activities and share Morocco’s traditional sporting heritage.
Participating delegations and invited guests will be accommodated at the Oriental Palace Resort & Spa in Taza, which will also host hospitality and coordination activities during the Festival.
Festival Programme
Thursday, 5 November – Arrival and Welcome
The opening day will be dedicated to the arrival of participating delegations and invited guests, accreditation and transfers to the accommodation venue.
A welcome dinner and an informal meeting of Heads of Delegation will be held during the evening.
Friday, 6 November – Conference and Official Opening
The international conference will begin at 10:00 a.m., with welcome addresses and presentations by Moroccan and international experts.
The afternoon will include a technical coordination meeting, preparations for the Traditional Sports and Games demonstrations and media interviews.
At 6:00 p.m., the official welcome ceremony will feature national anthems, cultural demonstrations, folk performances and the presentation of commemorative trophies.
Saturday, 7 November – Demonstrations and Cultural Exchange
The morning programme will feature international Traditional Sports and Games demonstrations, rotating presentations by participating delegations and workshops involving young people.
During the afternoon, the programme will continue with demonstrations of Moroccan Traditional Sports and Games, community participation activities and a meeting of Heads of Delegation.
The day will conclude with a cultural exchange evening and recognition of the volunteers, partners and representatives contributing to the Festival.
Sunday, 8 November – Women’s Victory Race and Closing
The final day will begin at 10:00 a.m. with a collective warm-up followed by the Women’s Victory Race.
The programme will conclude with the presentation of awards, the closing ceremony, the final adoption of the Guercif Declaration and the departure of participating delegations.
A central component of the Festival will be the international conference:
“Traditional Games: Their Importance, Preservation and Promotion”
The conference will take place on Friday, 6 November 2026, at 10:00 a.m., bringing together institutional leaders, specialists and researchers to consider the cultural, sporting, educational and social importance of Traditional Sports and Games.
The proposed speakers and contributions are:
Mrs Nouzha Bidouane, President of the Royal Moroccan Federation of Sport for All — Opening address and Morocco’s commitment to Traditional Sports and Games;
Mr Isa Mohamed Abdulrahim Mohamed Alrafaei, President of FISpT — Greetings from FISpT and the international Sport for All movement;
Mr Enzo Casadidio, FISpT Vice-President responsible for Traditional Sports and Games — The importance of Traditional Sports and Games within contemporary sport;
Mr Ahmad Saad Abdulla Alsharif, FISpT Vice-President for Education — Traditional Sports and Games as educational tools;
Mr Marco Tomasini, FISpT Chief Executive Officer and Secretary General — The FISpT Strategic Plan and the role of Traditional Sports and Games;
Mr Si-Mohamed Ouchene, Vice-President of the Royal Moroccan Federation of Sport for All — The Moroccan institutional perspective and federation development;
Mr Moncef Lyazghi, researcher — Research, documentation and the transmission of traditional games; and
Mr Souiyh Baba, Traditional Games specialist — Practical knowledge, authenticity and the safeguarding of Traditional Games.
The conference will seek to adopt the Guercif Declaration on Traditional Sports and Games, expressing a shared commitment to document, safeguard and promote traditional games and strengthen their role in international sport and education strategies.
The proposed Declaration will encourage sport organisations, public authorities, educational institutions, researchers and local communities to work together to:
Document Traditional Sports and Games and their cultural significance;
Protect their authenticity and support their continued practice;
Facilitate their transmission to younger generations;
Promote their use as educational and social-development tools;
Integrate them into Sport for All policies and programmes;
Encourage research, capacity-building and international knowledge-sharing; and
Advance inclusion, cultural diversity and peaceful cooperation through sport.
FISpT will be represented at the Festival by an invited institutional delegation comprising:
Mr Isa Mohamed Abdulrahim Mohamed Alrafaei, President of FISpT;
Mr Enzo Casadidio, FISpT Vice-President responsible for Traditional Sports and Games;
Mr Ahmad Saad Abdulla Alsharif, FISpT Vice-President for Education; and
Mr Marco Tomasini, FISpT Chief Executive Officer and Secretary General.
The delegation will participate in the conference, institutional activities and discussions concerning the future development of Traditional Sports and Games within the international Sport for All movement.
During the Festival, representatives of FISpT and the Royal Moroccan Federation of Sport for All will hold preliminary discussions regarding the conditions and organisational framework for the possible future hosting of the World TSG Games and the FISpT General Assembly and Board in Morocco.
These discussions will be exploratory. Any future hosting proposal, contractual arrangement or official FISpT event will remain subject to a separate evaluation and formal approval by the FISpT Board.
The patronage granted to the International Traditional Sport and Games Festival does not constitute advance approval of any future FISpT event or hosting agreement. The Local Organising Committee will cover participation arrangements only for the delegates and representatives formally invited by the Royal Moroccan Federation of Sport for All or the competent Moroccan authorities.
Other FISpT members, Board members and interested representatives may attend at their own expense, subject to advance registration and coordination with the organisers. Officially invited delegates should provide their travel details and a clear copy of their passport to both FISpT and the Royal Moroccan Federation of Sport for All. This information is required to coordinate accommodation reservations, accreditation, airport transfers and local transportation.
Through its patronage of the Festival, FISpT reaffirms the importance of Traditional Sports and Games within the international Sport for All movement and their capacity to connect physical activity with heritage, education, inclusion and intercultural dialogue.
FISpT congratulates the Royal Moroccan Federation of Sport for All, its President Mrs Nouzha Bidouane, the Local Organising Committee and the Moroccan institutional partners for developing this important initiative.
FISpT looks forward to joining participants in Guercif and contributing to a Festival that celebrates the diversity of the world’s sporting traditions while building new opportunities for education, cooperation and community participation.
Event at a Glance
Event: International Festival of Traditional Games
Theme: Traditional Sports and Games: Heritage, Education, Inclusion and International Cooperation
Dates: 5–8 November 2026
Host city: Guercif, Kingdom of Morocco
Accommodation: Oriental Palace Resort & Spa, Taza
Organiser: Royal Moroccan Federation of Sport for All
Institutional status: Held under the official patronage of FISpT
Conference: Traditional Games: Their Importance, Preservation and Promotion
Conference date: 6 November 2026 at 10:00 a.m.
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