The North African Athletics Championships was an international athletics competition between countries in North Africa. The event was hosted only twice, in 2003 and 2004, and was also known as the African Zone I Championships. It was the main track and field contest for the region, and during the same period North African championships in cross country, half marathon and combined events and racewalking were also held. [1] The development of intra-regional competition in North Africa was hampered by political disputes between Algeria and Morocco, particularly over sovereignty of the Western Sahara. [2]
The 2003 championships featured teams from Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia competing in 40 track and field events. The 2004 programme was much reduced, at 23 events, and Morocco was absent. [1]
The championships followed on from the Maghreb Athletics Championships, which featured the same four countries ) but was abandoned after 1990, as well as a one-off West and North African Athletics Championships in 1995. [3] [4]
| Ed. | Year | City | Country | Dates | No. of events | No. of nations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2003 | Tunis/Radès | Tunisia | 40 | 4 | |
| 2nd | 2004 | Algiers | Algeria | 23 | 3 |
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Maghrebi Jews or North African Jews are ethnic Jews who had traditionally lived in the Maghreb region of North Africa under Arab rule during the Middle Ages. Established Jewish communities had existed in North Africa long before the arrival of Sephardi Jews, expelled from Portugal and Spain. Due to proximity, the term 'Maghrebi Jews' sometimes refers to Egyptian Jews as well, even though there are important cultural differences between the history of Egyptian and Maghrebi Jews. These Jews originating from North Africa constitute the second largest Jewish diaspora group.
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The Maghreb Athletics Championships was an international athletics competition between athletes from countries of the Maghreb. The event was hosted eleven times during its existence from the late 1960s to 1990.
The 1977 Arab Athletics Championships was the inaugural edition of the international athletics competition between Arab countries. It took place in Damascus, Syria, coming one year after the city had hosted the 1976 Pan Arab Games. The absence of Egypt, Algeria and Morocco—the three foremost Arab nations in the sport—meant the level of competition was lower than that seen at the games. Iraq was the dominant nation, winning half the gold medals, and Tunisia was a clear second place with five golds. The hosts, Syria, placed third with a medal haul of twelve. Eight of the twelve participating nations reached the medal table.
The 1990 Maghreb Athletics Championships was the eleventh and final edition of the international athletics competition between the countries of the Maghreb. Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia were the competing nations. Organised by the Union des Fédérations d'Athlétisme du Maghreb Uni, it took place in Algiers, Algeria around 27 July. A total of 40 athletics events were contested, 22 for men and 18 for women. Morocco topped the medal table, followed by Algeria.
The 1986 Maghreb Athletics Championships was the tenth edition of the international athletics competition between the countries of the Maghreb. Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia were the competing nations. Organised by the Union des Fédérations d'Athlétisme du Maghreb Uni, it took place in Tunis, Tunisia from 7–9 August. A total of 39 athletics events were contested, 23 for men and 16 for women. The Maghreb men's marathon was held for the third and final time at the tournament.
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The 1984 Arab Junior Athletics Championships was the inaugural edition of the international athletics competition for under-20 athletes from Arab countries. It took place in Casablanca, Morocco from 21–23 July. A total of 38 athletics events were contested, 22 for men and 16 for women. The competition was scheduled to be held in the years between the biennial Arab Athletics Championships for senior athletes.
The 1988 Arab Junior Athletics Championships was the third edition of the international athletics competition for under-20 athletes from Arab countries. It took place in Damascus, Syria – the first time the event was staged in West Asia. A total of 41 athletics events were contested, 23 for men and 18 for women. Morocco, a regional power in the sport, did not send a team. Syria entered for the first time.
The Arab Athletics Federation is an international governing body for the sport of athletics.
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The International Cross Country Union (ICCU) was the first major international sports governing body for cross country running. Created in 1903, it launched the International Cross Country Championships that same year. Originally a grouping for contests between the four Home Nations of the British Isles, the body was symbolic of the increasing co-operation of the older national bodies found in those nations.
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