Soweto revisitedMarion Jones, Michael Johnson help youngsters in South Africa
Marion Jones and Michael Johnson, on Wednesday interrupted their training programmes to coach children in this black township south west of Johannesburg.
Last September, Marion Jones competed at the IAAF World Cup in Johannesburg, and helped launch an IAAF project in Soweto to encourage young people to enter sports. She was so touched by the experience that she vowed at the time she would return to do something for the youngsters in South Africa.
Several hundred young children, five to seven years old, and some adults met with the runners at Netherlands Stadium. About 1,000 students watched the session.
``It's great to get involved with them and by us getting involved, it might make the kids' life a bit more special,'' said Jones, who received the Jesse Owens International Trophy Award last month as the world's outstanding amateur athlete and was the recipient of the IAAF Athlete of the Year award for the second consecutive year.
Last year, Jones won 36 of 37 competitions in the 100, 200 and 400 meters and the long jump, with her only defeat coming in the long jump during the World Cup. "It's certainly great to start the season off in South Africa where I hope to run 10.65 in the 100 meter on Friday," Jones said.
Johnson, who holds the world's 200 meter record, encouraged the children to practice and train despite poor sports facilities, the results of decades of apartheid oppression of the black majority.
"When we started we also did not have the best facilities and even now we might have some of the best athletes in the world, but still don't have the greatest of facilities,'' Johnson said.
Soweto Mayor Nandi Khoza greeted the athletes and said he hoped "their presence in the township would encourage (children) to pursue a career in athletics.''
The two United States athletes will compete on Friday in the invitational Engen Summer Series Grand Prix at Roodepoort west of Johannesburg.