"Running on Empty"

Over the past few weeks, much has been made of the fact that 12 years on, the team remains unrepresentative of our society.

This coming Tuesday, Special Assignment looks at why so few black South African athletes, women in particular, are not yet world class, while under-developed countries like Kenya and Ethiopia have long-dominated distance running.

His world record in the 10-thousand metres has only just been broken by another Ethiopian, Kenenisa Bekele.

Gebrselassie was born in the Ethiopian Highlands and attributes the success of East African athletes to high altitude training.

"My region is very good for long distance runners. It is about 3000m above sea level. When I was a kid I used to run about 10km to school and back home every day".

But sports scientists say its more than just environmental factors that make some athletes better than others.

Ethiopia and Kenya have a culture of running; they have roles models to whom they can aspire and they rely on limited resources.

Interviewed in the program, Professor Tim Noakes says: "They don't need money to be successful. In South African culture you need money to buy the time to allow you to train".

And while Ethiopian and Kenyan women are following in the footsteps of their countrymen, with medals expected in most of the long distance events, there is not one black female long distance runner in the South African Olympic squad.

Find out more this Tuesday at 21h30 on SABC3.

phone: 27 11 714 6757
fax: 27 11 714 6254
e-mail: truth@sabc.co.za

To purchase copies of our program:

Business Enterprises at the SABC:
011 714 8066 or 011 714 6959
e-mail: enterpri@sabc.co.za