MARATHON CHAMPION TEGLA LOROUPE AND BUSINESSMAN GREG JAMES ARE FROM DIFFERENT WORLDS, BUT HAVE COMBINED IN A PEACE INITIATIVE TO USE RUNNING TO SOLVE CONFLICT. BY MIKE FINCH
On the face of it, Tegla Loroupe and Greg James couldnt be more different. One is a tiny 45kgmarathon runner who grew up in the conflict-ridden zone on the Kenya/Uganda border. The other is a South African businessman and chartered accountant who recently returned to South Africa to start the investment company, JAG.
But they share one vision to use sport to help bring peace to areas of conflict. And now the two unlikely partners are bringing a peace initiative to South Africa that they believe will help heal rifts and conflict in areas such as KwaZulu Natal.
“Sport has a way of helping build trust and debunking myths and stereotypes,” says Loroupe, who is an international sports ambassador for the IAAF and UNICEF and this year was named as a UN Ambassador of Sport along with tennis ace Roger Federer. “Sport is the only tool I know that helps people understand and listen to each otherits a massive unifying factor.”
Rival
Loroupe grew up in an area where conflict between warlords from Uganda and Kenya was a way of life. In November 2005, the fifth version of Tegla Loroupe Peace Race was held in Kanpenguria Township in Kenya where rival parties were invited to run against each other.
“We saw warring parties put away their guns and when someone gives you his gun he is helpless,” says Loroupe. “We had rivals running against each other and talking.”
Previous Peace Runs have already been held in conflict areas in Uganda, Southern Sudan and Kenya.
Such has the success of the Foundation been that international investment has helped Loroupe raise money to build a peace school in the area to help with education and continue the work started by the simple act of running together. Part of the curriculum is peace education, to help change the mentality of children from an early age by informing and understanding.
While Loroupe admits that the races themselves are just a starting point, much of the peace initiatives between Kenyan herders and farmers in the area, and warriors in nearby Uganda, have come as a result of these first points of contact.
“The idea is also to recruit for good running talent,” says former world marathon record holder Loroupe. “We want to establish a training camp and recruit those talents for running and not fighting.”
Passion
For the 41-year-old James, a three-time Two Oceans runner and Ironman Triathlon finisher, supporting Loroupe’s initiatives in South Africa through his company, JAG Investments, fuels both a passion for South Africa and an interest in running himself.
“We brought Tegla out to South Africa to talk about implementing her Peace Foundation races in South Africa and also helped her attend the Homeless Soccer World Cup (in September), says James. “The idea is to put proper systems in place to use a sport like running to help heal rifts in areas of conflict and to also look at helping fund elite athletes as well.”
Both James and Loroupe have already contacted South African legend Elana Meyer to assist with the programme and, although its early days, the two are pushing forward with their ideas.
For more information visit
www.teglaloroupepeacefoundation.org
Runner’s World Magazine, November 2006 Issue
Contact Information:
info@jaginvestment.com
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