21st Arab Junior Athletics Championships Conclude in Tunisia
The 21st Arab Junior Athletics Championships (under 20 years) came to a close on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at the Radès Athletics Stadium. The Tunisian national team won a total of 26 medals: 4 gold, 10 silver, and 12 bronze. Tunisia finished seventh in the final medal standings.
The Importance of the Championships
This competition, which brought together the young elite of the Arab world, is interesting. If it didn't exist, it would have to be created. In athletics, this is the age where training programs can be changed and endurance training can be implemented, focusing on specific skills.
Beyond the Gold Medalists
While the list of Tunisian participants, boys and girls, is impressive, the list of silver and bronze medalists is even more interesting. This is where the quality material is, and it's essential to work with and support these athletes, as our neighbors Algeria and Morocco do. These two countries have excellent structures and use them effectively.
The Moroccan Example
The National Institute of Athletics (INA) in Rabat, located near the Moulay Abdellah sports complex, is the main center of the Royal Moroccan Athletics Federation (Frma). It trains the young elite (14-18 years old) and prepares high-level athletes in demanding conditions, promoting competition and performance.
Intensive Training, Medical Support, and Education
The INA is a "total institution" at the heart of detecting and perfecting future Moroccan champions. It offers comprehensive support, combining intensive training, medical follow-up, and education. Many Moroccan Olympic and international athletes have been trained at the INA.
The Algerian Example
Algerian athletes train in several specialized centers across the country, mainly concentrated around Algiers and in key regional infrastructure. The Mohamed-Boudiaf Olympic Complex (Alger) is the hub of high-level sports, including the renovated athletics stadium, which prepares athletes for competitions.
The Tunisian Situation
We have some regional centers, sports high schools, and gathering places, but unfortunately, we are unable to take care of our elite. The example of what's happening in swimming is a painful wound in the future of our young athletes. Our federations are timid, lack financial means, and depend on tutelage that continues to show total disinterest.
A Call to Action
If this situation were to change, there is quality material to work with, but we would need a policy (not just subsidies) and responsible leaders (not just figureheads) to regain our position. The results of these Championships prove that there is potential to be tapped.
