Transcript for Tegla Loroupe: Peace through Sports

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The Extraordinary in Everyday Life

Peace through Sports

Holding the torch of the Harmony Run

I was invited by my friends Narmada and Heinz to go and and display for the Harmony Run in Rome

and I was really honoured to be there, to be among the people

Working for peace with Kofi Annan

Actually the problem came for Kenyans due to the elections where all the Kenyans wanted change

and when they did not meet their calls people errupted and started to fight one and another

and it took a lot of time and many people lost their lives and Kenyan country itself as we know is a country of peace.

For me it was a difficult thing to see. So when Kofi Annan came to settle the situation

actually me as a Kenyan citizen and also working in a role by our own Government as an Athlete Ambassador for peace

so I was among their people also together with Kofi Annan to talk about peace and

most of our people they understand the role that I have been doing, especially organize the Peace Races since 2003

We are going to continue the Peace Races not only in Kenya, we are going to have one in Uganda

and in the next future we are going to Sudan and Somalia.

So, when I have friends that support me, I just want to continue. Many people have joined our relays.

So, it helped a little bit and I can see that, after Kofi Annan left, there have been a lot of changes, but it takes time.

You have to understand there are so many people that have been displaced and they really don't know what will happen

in the next future but let's hope that, when the Government aggrees to share their parts as they said

I think it will make a difference for the people. The poor people always have a lot of problems because

the Government doesn't site them well and they continue with their lives and those who are behind they struggle.

Are you glad to be back in Switzerland

It's always good to come and see friends and I have been also training here in Switzerland in Davos

and I have a lot of relations and as I have been to the schools I have a lot of relations with the Swiss kids

and it's always good to be here.

And I can see our friend who is working for this hospital in Kenya, Stephan.

So for someone from Switzerland to come and help our people, for me also it's kind of relationship that we have all together.

Message for Swiss children

Well, my message for the children is to tell them that I really encourge them and I am looking forward to see and visit them

and so see also what they have been doing since last time I saw them,

academically, and also from the sports side.

And also I just want to tell them the school has not been finished due to our problems we had last year in Kenya

so the construction people had to leave but things are going on and soon the kids will be there to send also their love

to the Swiss kids.

If everything goes well, it's probably 2009 will be our first school day.

"You are spiritual" Sri Chinmoy

In 1999 I met Sri Chinmoy in New York, when I was going to be given the Bikila award

So he was the one who gave me the award

and we had a moment to talk together and he told me that he has seen or he felt

something in me that needs to be spoken out. He told me, "TegIa, I think you have a spiritual thing in your heart,

a longing for peace". At that time, there were not yet any peace races.

It gave me a lot of encouragement. So this was a gift that I didn'it want to expose.

And some few years later, I met Sri Chinmoy again in this school, where I went, and he lifted me up.

He gave me a lot of encouragement.

And I am really happy for what he did to the people and also to his students, to carry especially the Peace Harmony Run.

It's going to continue to light all over the world. And especially in the world today where there are conflicts all over.

We need such spiritual people among us.

UN Amassador for Peace

I was given an award in I think it was 2005 together with Roger Federer in New York as a Athlete Ambassador for UN.

For me, when I started 2003 Peace Races in Kenya I changed a lot of lives of people and therefore it was something that I was

given that Kofi Annan saw the need of the sports people bring people together and that's why he decided

him and other officials in the UN that I should be given this award in the African continent.

We need to love one another

My message is to tell the people, let us not be selfish and think highly of yourself and that's why there are so many conflicts

and so many wars, because the leaders in the world nowadays they think that they can rule over the world.

They don't care that they are destroying environment as well as human beings. That's why they are fighting.

I would like to tell them, we need to love one another and have peace and harmony

and share what we have.

The Extraordinary in Everyday Life

Peace through Sports

Tegla Loroupe Marathon Runner

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