Sport
Lord Coe gives World ORT chief pep talk ahead of Virgin London Marathon
Double Olympic champion Seb Coe has backed Team ORT’s London Marathon efforts as he met Avi Ganon, World ORT Director General and CEO.
April 24, 2019 09:50
Double Olympic champion Seb Coe has backed Team ORT’s London Marathon efforts as he met Avi Ganon, World ORT Director General and CEO.
April 24, 2019 09:50Lord Coe, who won gold for Britain in the 1,500 metres at the 1980 and 1984 Olympics, discussed training techniques and marathon experience with Mr Ganon.
An avid amateur runner, Mr Ganon will lead a team of British and Israeli runners on behalf of ORT UK at the country’s largest annual charity event on Sunday.
He said: “It was a real honour to meet Lord Coe. He was one of the athletes who inspired me to take up running, and it was a real morale boost ahead of the marathon on April 28.”
The pair discussed ORT’s work to educate students around the globe and Lord Coe’s experiences of visiting Israel.
Lord Coe, who is currently president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), commented on Israel’s current and former athletics programmes and his own work with the Israeli Athletic Association.
Mr Ganon has said his travel commitments as CEO will limit the likelihood of his setting a personal best on the 26.2-mile course, but Team ORT collectively hopes to raise £30,000 towards the refurbishment of the athletics programme at the Kfar Silver Youth Village in Israel.
He said: “The refurbishment of the athletics facilities will give the students more opportunities to be successful in their lives, and we know how valuable it is for people to donate to help us build the new running track, renovate the gym and its changing rooms, and to purchase sports equipment.
"We need ORT supporters to dig deep into their pockets as we dig deep into our stamina reserves on the marathon course.”
Donations towards ORT's London Marathon efforts can be made via https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/teamort