Kipketer, Loroupe to represent Africa in Dubai
Kenyan former distance runners to be among the stars at Peace and Sport Forum
Dubai: Wilson Kipketer and Tegla Loroupe, two of Africa’s most famous distance runners, will represent the continent at the Peace and Sport Forum to be held at the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel here on April 23 and 24.
Kipketer and Loroupe are among the early confirmations for this month’s event, which is being held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council.
“We welcome such famed athletes, who have confirmed their presence in advance. Not only does this show us how close these sports figures hold peace in their hearts, but their commitment to having a peaceful world,” Dr Ahmad Sa’ad Al Sharif, General Secretary of the Dubai Sports Council (DSC), told Gulf News.
“In addition to these two great sportspersons from the African continent, we have others like Moroccan middle distance champion Hesham Al Gerrouj and French football star Christian Karembu, who are among the early confirmations.”
Loroupe and Kipketer have been legendary in the world of athletics. Both athletes were born in Kenya, with Loroupe, who turns 40 next month, establishing the Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation in 2003. She has since been a global spokesperson for peace, women’s rights and education.
Loroupe holds the world records for 20, 25 and 30km and previously held the world marathon record. She is a three-time world half-marathon champion, while she is also famous for being the first woman from Africa to win the New York City Marathon. She has also won marathons in London, Boston, Rotterdam, Hong Kong, Berlin and Rome.
Kipketer, who also holds a Danish passport, became a legend in middle-distance running as he remained undefeated for a three-year period in his pet 800 metres event.
Though Kipketer ran eight of the 17 all-time fastest times, he never won an Olympic gold medal. However, the 40-year-old did claim successive golds at three IAAF World Championships and his 800m record stood for almost 13 years until it was eclipsed by another Kenyan, David Rudisha.
“These are legends of the sport and so highly-regarded globally for they have achieved and we feel honoured to have all these eminent personalities at our forum,” Dr Sharif said.
Dubai will become the first city outside Europe to host the Peace and Sport forum.
Founded in 2007 by Joel Bouzou, it boasts top sportspeople such as tennis stars Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, rugby legend Jonah Lomu and Ukrainian pole vaulter Sergey Bubka among its members.
