Four-time Olympic champion Mo Farah on tackling racism in sport, and his hopes for the Tokyo Games

Mo Farah after crossing the finish line in the Antrim Coast Half Marathon. The four-time Olympic gold medalist joined an elite line-up in Larne, County Antrim .

  • Speaking in the latest episode of CNBC’s “The Leadership League,” the internationally-acclaimed track star said it was important to teach his own four children about racism.
  • “It’s really important I’m honest with my kids and continue to educate them,” Farah said.
  • Farah catapulted onto the world stage after winning gold medals in both the 5,000m and 10,000m race events on his home turf at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Sporting legend Mo Farah has told CNBC that racism in sport “shouldn’t be tolerated” and educating the next generation can help to tackle the issue.

The four-time Olympic champion long-distance runner, who left his home in war-torn Somalia and moved to the U.K. when he was 8 years old, said: “Sport is the only thing that brings people together.”

“It’s important for us to stand up and to continue to do the work we do and give people hope, and continue to change, and I think it is changing… but in everything, you will find challenges,” Farah said.

Speaking in the latest episode of CNBC’s “The Leadership League,” the internationally-acclaimed track star said it was important to teach his own four children about racism.

“It’s really important I’m honest with my kids and continue to educate them,” he said.

“For me, my kids have values… it doesn’t matter about color, it doesn’t matter about religion, it doesn’t matter about the color of their hair… just respect people and get on with them,” he added.

Tokyo Games

Farah, who won multiple World and European titles throughout his illustrious career, made Olympic history after winning gold medals in the 5,000m and 10,000m race events on his home turf at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

He went on to seal his Olympic legacy after achieving the “double double” — winning gold medals in the same two events four years later at the Rio 2016 Games.

The athletics superstar retired from track and field racing in 2017 to take on a new challenge of marathon running. But in 2019, Farah announced he would return to the track to defend his 10,000m title at the Tokyo Games.

The games are scheduled to take place from July 23 to Aug. 8 in 2021, after being postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

On Sunday, Japan allowed for its first 100% capacity crowd at a sporting event since the beginning of coronavirus restrictions. The event took place at its Yokohama stadium, which is due to be the Olympic venue for softball and baseball events.