Nawal is currently the Vice President of the International Olympic Committee. She made history for African sports in general, and that of Morocco in particular, during her victory in the 400-meter hurdles of the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1984. It is that record that made her a legendary sportswoman, as being the first African-Arab Muslim woman to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games and a symbol of pride for African women. Animated by the desire to emancipate women through sport, Nawal El Moutawakel organises the Women’s Race every year in Casablanca. A member of the IOC Women and Sports Commission and the IOC Marketing Commission, in 2004 she was appointed Chairperson of the IOC Evaluation Commission for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. She is currently Vice-Chair of the Laureus World Sports Academy. On December 21, 2017, Nawal El Moutawakel was awarded the National Order of the Southern Cross (Commander Class) by the Brazilian Government at a ceremony held in Rabat (Morocco). This is the highest honour that can be awarded by Brazil to foreign nationals to express the gratitude of the Brazilian nation. El Moutawakel received the honour from the Brazilian Ambassador to Morocco, José Humberto de Brito Cruz, in recognition of her contribution to the success of the Olympic Games Rio 2016 as the Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission.