Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) (© Getty Images)
Millions of people across the globe regard Haile Gebrselassie as the greatest distance runner in history. Few, however, are aware that the 32-year-old Ethiopian is also a leader in humanitarian relief - a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador - whose tireless efforts on behalf of the world body have shown no bounds. Paul Gains reports
Twice the Olympic 10,000m champion, Gebreselassie has been working with the United Nations Development Program since 1998 when he was first appointed to the prestigious role of Goodwill Ambassador. The UNDP’s mission is manifold - to eradicate poverty, fight HIV/AIDS, promote democracy and help in the recovery from crisis. Since his initial appointment he has taken on an ever increasing responsibility in these areas that few could shoulder comfortably. Gebreselassie views it as his duty.
Delivering speeches, attending UNDP staff meetings, appearing at photo opportunities and giving interviews are all part of the role. Along with Fatuma Roba he participated in the inaugural “Run Against Poverty” during ceremonies marking International Day for Poverty Eradication in Addis Ababa. But his involvement is not limited to the occasional appearance. He has helped fundraise for various projects including, for instance, an initiative for the Ethiopian Sports Federation for the Disabled. His contribution helped send a team of athletes to the first All Africa Games for the disabled in 1999.
It is the issue of HIV/AIDS that is alarming to the people of Ethiopia. Indeed, more than one million children have been orphaned, losing parents to it. Gebrselassie has undertaken a key position in the fight against this dreadful disease.
“There is a big problem here in Ethiopia, many are positive with AIDS and HIV. Everyone knows someone who has died from AIDS. They are my friends, they are my people. As long as you live in Ethiopia you know them,” he explains. “Those people are my supporters wherever I go, wherever I run, they support me. Those people who died with HIV/AIDS I know them. I have been close to them. I can’t change everything by myself but I can be one of the people who are trying to change the situation.”
Over the years he has met with numerous politicians both at home and abroad on behalf of the UNDP. Through education programs he hopes that the people’s attitudes especially in rural areas, can be changed towards those who suffer from the disease.
“The UN Development Program asked me to work together with them. This is one of my responsibilities. I started working for my country - I have to do things for my country,” he explains. “This is because I try to be an example for others. I advise youngsters with things when they have campaigns. I am trying to do that. Of course I am always concentrating on my running but when I have some time I am trying to do something for what they need me.”
“I am working with the World Food Program with (global courier company) TNT. TNT is a sponsor of the WFP. They asked me to work together. I am happy because this is so important. Of course I also work with a program called Local Heroes supporting Ethiopian orphans when they lose their parents with HIV AIDS something like that. Local Heroes contributed a lot of money since they started three or four years ago. They can do a lot of things and I appreciate that especially my manager, Jos Hermens is supporting this program so finally we can have good support with local heroes for Ethiopians.”
On 20 June TNT’s 180,000 employees worldwide, their families and friends will participate in an event called “Walk the World” to raise money for food programs. Haile has filmed a video message, to U2's song “Walk On”, which is to be played to the upper management levels. Its purpose is to generate interest throughout the company in advance of the big day.
Gebrselassie is amongst some pretty stalwart company within the UN Goodwill Ambassador program. Celebrities such as actors Michael Douglas, Danny Glover, Angelina Jolie as well as sports heroes such as Muhammad Ali, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and George Weah are also heavily involved in the programs. To say these people are appreciated is an understatement.
“The goodwill ambassador is someone who will be able to carry our messages,” says Hyacinthe Morgan, the UNDP Chief of Special Events and Goodwill Ambassador Program. “Someone who understands the work of the UN and the issues that it advocates. For example, the eradication of HIV AIDS is something we are really supportive of and the elimination of poverty, especially in Africa. So we signed on Haile for that mission. A goodwill ambassador has to be someone who is respected in his or her community and on the international scene and able to influence one or more groups or is able to speak to the media.”
“There are expectations. We expect them to behave in a certain way, for one. And be good models and we also ask them to do independent activities but also when they are appearing in their normal professional life to use that opportunity to talk about their work with the UN. We try not to put undue pressure on them but at the same time we sometimes ask them to take trips to meet with groups, to appear at events, depending upon what they are able to do.”
On one of his overseas trips, to New York City, which coincided with a special screening of “Endurance” the film Disney made of his life, Haile met key UN officials including the brother of Secretary-General Kofi Annan. But the highlight of the trip and one that illustrates perfectly the impact Haile has on youth occurred during a visit to a sports arena in Harlem. Hundreds of inner city children of all ages chased Haile around the track like some sort of Pied Piper.
“You don’t realise,” one boy told Leslie Woodhead,the film's director, “He is my hero!”
While he remains focused on running Gebreselassie always finds time on a near daily basis for his various charitable initiatives. According to his manager, Jos Hermens, it probably averages out to about two hours a day. And he has his brothers and his wife Alem involved in construction projects in rural Ethiopia. These projects include building schools. The philosophy behind them is consistent with and complements his work with the UNDP aiming to help his people fend for themselves rather than forever depending upon overseas aid.
“School is very important for everyone. Our main problem is to get the right school for children. If children get schooling we can eradicate poverty, The key to eradicate poverty is schooling and that is why I am trying to get more schools,” he explains. “At this time I have two schools in two cities - my village of Assela and the other town, Mahada. It’s about 500 kilometres from Addis.
“Totally at the moment I have around 600 students in the two schools. They are young up until the fourth grade. I call them after my mother’s name: Shawananness Memorial school. I called them after my mother because she had an excellent idea about schooling. All the time she was alive she took all the family to school. She is a very good example in that area. I can say she is the only one who took all of her children to school and none of them did this around our village. She did it. She didn’t learn. She didn’t join school but she had a very good mentality about school.”
A third Olympic gold medal beckons. And while Gebreselassie remains focused on achieving what no man has ever done before, a larger purpose exists. The people of Ethiopia and Africa in general can look to their hero.
Published in IAAF Magazine Issue 1 - 2004