They call it Casablancaise, it sits between Centre Ville and Maarif in one of the few green parks that Casablanca can claim to have. The stadium is full of trash, sports a dirt 300 m track and reminds me of what urban degradation would look like if done by American Eagle. Remember those sweatshirts you could buy, when you were 14, from any of those stores (insert name like Halister, Abercrombie and Fitch etc)? They would be a navy or maroon faded color, with strategically placed holes and shredded ends, as if the entire garment had been rubbed on coarse cement. Then the words Physical Education sewn on the front or back. This is what the stadium looks like now. A photo shoot waiting to take place.
It wouldn't be that depressing if you didn't know what Casablancaise used to be. I have heard stories, of championship African track and field events, full stands, crowd screaming, award ceremonies and medal distributions. It was were many of Morocco's most famous track and field athletes (men and women) started their careers as teenagers. Strangely enough, despite it being forgotten by government and private sectors alike, it is still used. It is free to use and at any moment during the day, you see an incredible cross section of Moroccan society training there. Women wearing the hijab or full niqab, young boys and girls training for a team, old men and women stretching...I could keep going.
This blog entry will start a small series on this stadium, its past and its future. I am currently trying to do a radio documentary on the story behind the area and hopefully try to get enough people to mobilize and get the government to revive it. Partly because I like the ambiance there and think it is truly a very special place and partly because I am tired of seeing Lady Fitness everywhere.
