Lausanne (SUI), August 17, 2012: It is with great regret and sadness that the FEI has learned of the passing of HRH Princess Lalla Amina, President of the Fédération Royale Marocaine des Sports Equestres. An emblematic figure in Moroccan equestrian sports and President of the Federation since 1999, HRH Princess Lalla Amina was a devoted and accomplished equestrian.
President of the Moroccan league for Child Protection, HRH Princess Lalla Amina was a strong advocate for children’s rights throughout her life and worked tirelessly on national legislation and the harmonisation with international laws and conventions. She was a member of the honorary committee of the global movement of mothers, Honorary President of the Hadaf Association for the protection of disabled persons and also chaired the Moroccan Association for promoting arts for the disabled.
“HRH Princess Lalla Amina was a wonderfully generous person who always put the needs of others first,” FEI President HRH Princess Haya said. “She has had a profound impact on the lives of so many young people and her dedication and lifelong work will continue to provide those in need with a better framework to help them in times of trouble.
“Lalla Amina was an example and a mentor to me personally, and to every young woman in our region who loves horses. No one person has done more for the equestrian community and its development in Arabia and Africa than she did. The vacuum she leaves will be impossible to fill, and we will all miss her terribly.
“Everyone that had the chance to know and work with her in the equestrian world are devastated by her passing. She was a truly remarkable woman.”
Chairperson for Special Olympics Morocco, Princess Lalla Amina was elected the first African sport leader for the global movement that aims to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and friendship.
In 2004, Princess Lalla Amina was awarded a Special Olympics International prize. She also received the Women and Sport Trophy awarded by the International Olympic Committee and was decorated in 2007 with a second division Wissam al-Mohammadi by HM King Mohammed VI.
Horses were an important part of Princess Lalla Amina’s life. As well as riding and breeding horses, she was actively involved in equestrian sport as well. She was elected president of the organising committee of “Horse Week” in Dar Es Salam (Rabat), and was also the coach of the Moroccan national team and a national Jumping judge.
HRH Princess Lalla Amina was pre-deceased by her husband, Moulay Driss El Ouezzani, former president of the Royal Moroccan Equestrian Federation.
The FEI expresses its sincere condolences to HRH Princess Lalla Amina’s family, the people of Morocco and to her many friends in the equestrian world. —- FEI/Image © FEI/Hugues Siegenthaler
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