Dubai: Austrian swimmer Markus Rogan hates swimming, but he is there for a cause that is too close to his heart: funding charitable projects in India and Ethiopia to ensure kids there have a much better future.
Rogan, who took silver behind American record holder Ryan Lochte in the men's 200m individual medley at the Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Sports Complex on Friday night, has been lending his support to at least a couple of existing charities in Ethiopia and India for the past nearly two years now.
The charity in Ethiopia called "Tesfaye" — jointly founded by Barbel Klepp, Alexander Seefranz and Manfred Muller in 2006 — supports the lives and needs of 130 children in the African nation.
And the Indian charity named "Zuki" has a full infrastructure catering to 300 mostly orphaned kids who go to school, study and even work on the premises.
In fact, Rogan is scheduled to travel to Kolkata day after Christmas to compare and contrast the two charities to see how he can be of better use in his commitment.
Business model
"I believe a charity needs to be run [on] a business model basis, so it is important that I go and personally visit this charity as it is like a role model for us," Rogan told media.
By his own admission, Rogan is not a firm believer either in rigorous training or for that matter, even in his chosen sport.
"But here I am in a position to make a difference in whatever small way I can and that is why I do this," Rogan said.
"I use all my free time and hence it is important that I be involved totally in what I am doing."
Education
The 28-year-old Austrian believes that "education is a compulsory must while sport is just a luxury" in a world of disparities.
"And that is why my charities are based on education as its pillar. First you've got to have food and then a place to sleep and then comes education that will actually set these children up for the future," he said. "Sport at best is just a luxury. Someday in the future maybe we can think about sport in our charities."
