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Morocco’s Grand Casablanca Stadium wins architecture contest

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Morocco’s Grand Casablanca Stadium, which is one of the stadia built for the 2030 world cup, has won a world architecture contest.

 

The consortium which designed the spectacular edifice led by Moroccan architect, Tarik Oualalou, won the architecture competition for the future Grand Casablanca Stadium, beating 12 other contestants to the gong.

 

Moroccan authorities had preselected the 12 candidates after reviewing technical and administrative files, including Populous Ltd, a British agency with world-renowned stadium projects, and ME Engineers Ltd, a global leader in sports design and lighting.

 

“Of the 12 candidates who had applied for the design, technical study and supervision of the construction of the Grand Stade de Casablanca, the National Company for the Production and Management of Sports Equipment Sonarges had selected seven before the end of this first phase,” the organizers of the contest said on its website.

 

“Australia’s Rider Levett Bucknall and Italy’s Maffeis Engineering SPA, the other members of the selected consortium, have experience with major projects like the Lusail Sports Arena, the United Arab Emirates’ Khalifa Stadium, the Stade de la Meinau in France, and Heathrow International Airport in London.

 

“Tarik Oualalou’s consortium won the contract after proposing a fee rate of 5.70%, which represents an estimated cost of services of approximately MAD 199 million, approximately $20 million.

 

“The Grand Casablanca Stadium will be built in line with the most contemporary regulations of international football, notably the FIFA 2030 criteria,” the statement said.

 

“It is designed to have a maximum seating capacity of 115,000 to serve all mass sports and cultural organizations and events.

 

“Located near Benslimane Airport, the proposed Grand Stade site is 38 kilometers from Casablanca and 18 kilometers from Mohammedia in the commune of Mansouria in the province of Benslimane.

 

“The Grand Stade de Casablanca development deal was signed on October 20, 2018, and the highest estimated budget for the project is MAD 5 billion ($500 million).

 

“Located on an expansive 100-hectare site, the project will include the Grand Stade and its supporting infrastructure, as well as ancillary projects and services. The project may eventually be expanded or redeveloped with the available land.

 

“The stadium will include a FIFA-approved grass pitch, covered stands with a capacity of 115,000 seats, as well as ancillary facilities for athletes, officials, operators, organizers, and spectators.

 

“In addition to these features, the project also includes the construction of a public assembly hall, dressing rooms, medical services, media centers, secure parking lots for officials and players, and one area designated for the general public.

 

“Additional facilities include ticketing, accreditation, broadcasting and volunteer centers, as well as four FIFA-approved training pitches and adjacent parking lots.

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Culture

African men run away from single mothers— Joselyn Dumas

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Veteran Ghanaian actress and media personality, Joselyn Dumas, has lamented the fact that most African men shy away from getting married to single mothers due to the added responsibilities they will be saddled with.

The actress who made the assertion in her recent podcast, “Keeping it Real with Joselyn Dumas, The Perfect Picture”, opened up on the challenges of many single mothers who are struggling to find a partner because of societal biases.

In the podcast, Dumas who shared a personal story of a male friend whom she said refused to settle down with a lady because she had a child.

According to her, the friend named Anthony, firmly stated that it wasn’t his thing to be with a ‘born one’ or ‘born two’.

“He said B1, B2, I’m not in and I said to myself, ‘this is the reason why a lot of single mothers are single with their children.

“Now his reason was, why am I going to raise somebody’s child? That’s not my bloodline. He doesn’t have my DNA in him. Why am I now going to help someone’s bloodline grow? What about mine?” she said.

Dumas who is a single mother, noted that Anthony’s mindset is a “reflection of the views of a larger majority of people who don’t want to have meaningful relationship with single mothers.”

She also criticised what she termed as the double standard in society’s views on raising non-biological children, arguing that it should not be seen differently from adoption.

“I have a child but these men won’t even ask you, they don’t even care why you have a child. You’ve had seven miscarriages when you got married. You meet a guy, you were dating and you got pregnant, are you going to abort the baby because you aren’t married?

“He doesn’t want the child, are you going to throw the child away? No! You can raise the child. It takes a village to raise the child, so even if you don’t have a job, you will get support. This is part of the sacrifice you have to make regardless of what has happened,” she said.

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Namibia govt condemns tourists posing naked on Big Daddy Dune

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The Namibian authorities have frowned at tourists who posed naked at the Big Daddy Dune, the country’s top tourist attraction located in the Namibian desert.

Reports in the country’s media say locals were shocked to sight the tourists posing naked on the Dune during a safari and have demanded for action against them from authorities.

According to local media, actions that could be taken against the tourists include being blacklisted from entering any of Namibia’s parks.

A spokesperson from the country’s Tourism Ministry told local media that photos and a video from of the naked tourists have been widely shared, sparking sharp reactions.

Vice Chairperson of the Federation of Namibian Tourism Associations, Kenneth Nependa, who condemned the act, told journalists that the behaviour risked attracting tourists “who think anything goes in Namibia.”

“It is very sickening and it really creates a bad image for Namibia,” Nependa said, adding that the Big Daddy Dune was not just a relaxing place for tourists but for families too.

Though it is not clear who took the photos and the video of the three male tourists who were seen stark naked in the sandy dune, next to their clothes, authorities say a stern action will be taken against them.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Romeo Muyunda, described the behaviour as “extremely shocking,” saying it was public indecency punishable by Namibian law.

“We appeal to that section of tourists to summon the conscience so that they do the right things,” Muyunda said.

He appealed to Namibians to report violations of park regulations immediately for swift action.

The Big Daddy dune is one of the three largest dunes in Namibia’s enormous Namib-Naukluft National Park, one of the largest in the world and are popular with tourists who hike to the top to have a stunning view across the crests.

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