El Guerrouj running his senior debut in the Ostrava 5000m (© Golden Spike)
Brussels, BelgiumBefore returning to his training base in Ifrane after his senior debut at 5000m in Ostrava last Thursday, Hicham El Guerrouj made a quick stop in Brussels at the weekend.
A little less than 3 months before his tenth consecutive appearance at the Van Damme Memorial - IAAF Golden League meeting - on September 5th, the Moroccan middle distance running superstar stopped over to witness the signing of a 3-years agreement between the organizers of the Belgian meet and UNICEF, the United Nations children’s fund.
The painting that serves as the basis for the official poster of the Van Damme Memorial meeting - an original canvas by Flemish artist Jef Van Tuerenhout - will be auctioned a few days before the meeting. The money collected during the sale will go to a UNICEF project in Morrocco, the building of a school in the Sidi Yousef Ben Ali district, near Marrakech. The aim of this project is quite clear: reduce children’s work and improve the schooling opportunities especially for girls, especially in rural areas, where they are often used as servants at a very early age.
Being an ambassador for UNICEF since 1999, El Guerrouj had all the reasons to support this action.
“In Morocco, our wealth is that of a youthful country: 75% of the population is younger than 30. Unfortunately, this population is poor, and children often have to go to work instead of going to school. This project can help change the current mentalities.”
Just like Ethiopia’s great long distance runner Haile Gebrselassie, El Guerrouj is seriously considering going into politics after his career.
“It would be social politics though. We have a young and ambitious king, we have a young and ambitious government. I wouldn’t mind helping them. Being a public figure, I have to serve as an example for my people. I want to make them understand that you can always reach your goals when you are motivated and dedicated. I come from a poor family; my father was a sandwich salesman. It’s him who taught me to go after challenges.”
El Guerrouj, a real humanist on the track, is aware of the good life he’s living on the athletics circuit.
“I know I’m fortunate. But I’m not living this kind of life to earn millions and look down on my people. That would not be good muslim culture to do so. It breaks my heart when I see beggars in our streets. That’s why I’m trying to do my best when I’m running, to give them hope and a little bit of happiness”.
That’s why, also, El Guerrouj is always trying to set the good example, on and off the track.
“I’ll never say I’m perfect in my daily life; it’s hard to be perfect! But in my sporting lfe, yes, I think I’m perfect, considering all the sacrifices I’m doing to succeed.”