Four-time Olympic Champion Mo Farah On Tackling Racism in Sport, And his Hopes For The Tokyo Games
November 6, 2020 - Written by admin
Sporting
legend Mo Farah has told CNBC that racism in sport “shouldn’t be tolerated” and
educating the next generation can help to tackle the issue.
The
four-time Olympic champion long-distance runner, who left his home in war-torn
Somalia and moved to the U.K. when he was 8 years old, said: “Sport is the only
thing that brings people together.”
“It’s
important for us to stand up and to continue to do the work we do and give
people hope, and continue to change, and I think it is changing… but in everything,
you will find challenges,” Farah said.
Speaking
in the latest episode of CNBC’s “The Leadership League,” the
internationally-acclaimed track star said it was important to teach his own
four children about racism.
“It’s really important I’m honest with my kids
and continue to educate them,” he said.
“For
me, my kids have values… it doesn’t matter about color, it doesn’t matter about
religion, it doesn’t matter about the color of their hair… just respect people
and get on with them,” he added.
Tokyo
Games
Farah,
who won multiple World and European titles throughout his illustrious career,
made Olympic history after winning gold medals in the 5,000m and 10,000m race
events on his home turf at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
He
went on to seal his Olympic legacy after achieving the “double double” —
winning gold medals in the same two events four years later at the Rio 2016
Games.
The
athletics superstar retired from track and field racing in 2017 to take on a
new challenge of marathon running. But in 2019, Farah announced he would return
to the track to defend his 10,000m title at the Tokyo Games.
The
games are scheduled to take place from July 23 to Aug. 8 in 2021, after being
postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
On
Sunday, Japan allowed for its first 100% capacity crowd at a sporting event
since the beginning of coronavirus restrictions. The event took place at its
Yokohama stadium, which is due to be the Olympic venue for softball and
baseball events.
The
country is testing a number of different strategies and technologies that it
hopes will ensure they can deliver a safe Olympic Games for both athletes and
spectators.
To
date, more than 104,000 people have contracted the coronavirus in Japan, with
1,800 related deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
Farah
told CNBC he was “disappointed” when the Tokyo Games were postponed, but he
believes they will go ahead, hopefully with spectators, next year.
“I
think that the Olympics will happen and it’s something that I’m aiming for,” he
said.
“It
would be difficult without the crowd, that’s what gives me the boost, gives me
energy, gives me belief, so we need the crowd, and… hopefully, we will have
it,” he added.
Grassroots
initiatives
Farah
said that despite continuing to set records and winning the U.S. Chicago
Marathon in 2018, he had missed competing on the track.
On
his recent return to athletics at the Diamond League meeting in Brussels,
Belgium in September, the 37-year-old set a world record for the one-hour run,
completing 21,330 meters in an hour.
Farah,
whose record-breaking career began through the support of his school sports
teacher, Alan Watkinson, also told CNBC he is a big believer in grassroots
initiatives.
The track champion says he has already completed his coaching license so that he can give back to his sport in the future.
Pace Setter Great Britain’s Mo Farah in action during the Men’s Elite Race during the Virgin Money London Marathon around St James’ Park. Adam Davy | PA Images via Getty Images
“I’d
like to be able to give back to the younger generation… I think myself and
other athletes need to get involved and continue to encourage them,” he said