A Japanese city is rooting for South Sudan at the Olympics Share Updated: 8:59 PM PDT May 13, 2021 By Emiko Jozuka, Blake Essig, Junko Ogura and Daniel Campisi, CNN
A Japanese city is rooting for South Sudan at the Olympics Share Updated: 8:59 PM PDT May 13, 2021
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Show Transcript I m doing it for my country, not for myself. Abraham a joke. Mattek Guam has been running his entire life running from violence. Running for survival. And in just a few months running to unite a nation at the Summer olympic games in Tokyo. I need for my people. That is the South Sudan is love and peace and all this comes with forgiveness when they are able to forgive one another. This piece can come in. Since becoming an independent nation in 2011, South Sudan has been embroiled in constant conflict. The most recent a six year long civil war which left nearly 400,000 people dead and millions more displaced, seeing always people dying, seeing people s
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The Japanese city that s rooting for South Sudan at the Olympics
They may not be competing for Olympic gold, but four South Sudanese athletes have become local stars in the little Japanese city of Maebashi. In Japan, they ve found a safe haven to train, immerse themselves in the local culture, and promote the message of peace for South Sudan.
Posted: May 13, 2021 1:50 AM
Updated: May 13, 2021 1:50 AM
Posted By: By Emiko Jozuka, Blake Essig, Junko Ogura and Daniel Campisi, CNN
The first time Abraham Majok Matet Guem competed in a track race, he ran in his black school shoes.
Guem now a 21-year-old Olympian representing South Sudan was so fast he quickly caught the eye of a coach, who bought him proper running shoes and sportswear.