Rabat – Students from Morocco’s Ibn Tofail University have won first place at the fifth edition of the International Olympic Case Study Competition, which took place on Tuesday in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The winning team came from the Institute of Sports Professions (IMS) and competed in the master’s category against top universities from around the world.
In the final, Ibn Tofail University outperformed five leading international institutions specializing in sports science, including the German Sport University Cologne and the University of Lille in France.
The Moroccan team secured first place thanks to its innovative ideas and strong analysis of complex issues related to sports governance and athlete protection. This year’s competition focused on the theme: “Supporting and Guiding Elite Young Athletes.”
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) organized the 2025/2026 edition of the competition in partnership with Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and Universidad Europea de Madrid.
It brought together a record 36 universities from different continents for a series of virtual rounds. Only 10 teams advanced to the final round, which took place in- person for the first time at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland.
This format gave finalists the opportunity to present their projects directly to international juries specializing in applied research and sports management.
The university said that “this historic victory consolidates the reputation and academic excellence of Ibn Tofail University. It reflects the commitment, creativity, and professionalism of our students, who proudly carried the colors of Morocco and Africa onto the international stage.”
It added that the achievement reflects the “dedication and ambition” of the faculty members, “whose unwavering efforts remain a cornerstone of our institution’s success.”
Ibn Tofail University had already made history before the final results were announced. It was the first African institution to ever take part in the competition since its creation.