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Learning to succeed

Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Nov 08/06) - It's a long way from Georgetown, Guyana, to Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, but Canadian Olympian Charles Allen is used to long journeys.

Allen, 29, of Brampton, Ont., was in Rankin this past month for the Nunavut Olympic Youth Academy.

The glamour of running the 110-metre hurdles on an Olympic track was a distant dream for a young boy growing up in Guyana, a South American country.

But, today, through hard work and dedication, Allen is living that dream. Allen said having beaten those odds gives him an advantage when speaking to youth in remote places.

He feels a connection with the kids in that he overcame many of the same barriers they're dealing with.

"If they have a dream, I am living proof that sometimes dreams do come true," said Allen.

"When I was young, I wanted someone to come along and tell me to get involved in as much as I could.

"Being involved in sports can take you places. It's taken me to the Olympic Games and how great is that?

"It would be fantastic to think, even for a second, I may have come here and influenced one of these kids to do the same thing I did."

Allen was impressed by the drive he saw in many of the youth at the academy. He said it was humbling to realize many of them have done more for their community than he has.

"They really reach out and try to spread the word to get everyone involved.

"That's why they came to the academy, to learn how to continue to be good leaders in their community. Hopefully, we've shown them ways to get more people involved with positive activities and sports programs."

For all their drive and determination, however, Allen sensed that many of the youth didn't have an understanding of what being an Olympian is really all about. He said that shows more education is necessary in the sporting environment.

"Maybe there should be more done in the schools to better educate the youth as to what's involved in making it to the Olympics, or participating in amateur sports in general.

"There's the dedication and time you put in, but there's also the sense of representing your country everywhere you go.

"There's a certain responsibility that comes with representing all Canadians on the international stage."

Allen said many kids honestly don't feel an Olympian represents them. He said that's why it's so important for those who beat the odds to share their stories. "We need to have them grasp the story of someone overcoming great odds to make them honestly realize they can succeed too.

"We need to inspire them to step out of their shell and chase their dreams.

"If they can learn to push a little harder and go beyond what surrounds them, maybe one day it's one of them fuelling the youth in their community to achieve more."