Kurdistan awareness to be given a lift by Olympics
The people of Kurdistan have reason to be proud today (Thursday 26 July) in the build up to the start of the London Olympics as a young Kurd is to carry the torch through London.
Sam Jafar, 19, originally from Koya in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq but now living in London, is due to carry the flame between Oxford Circus and Bond Street in the early evening.
As a youngster growing up in London, Sam fell in with the wrong crowd. He spent some time away from the city and when he returned he had nowhere to live. After being given accommodation by Westminster City Council he wanted to give something back to his community, get involved with a local club and make the most of his spare time.
Sam – who has pledged his support for the campaign to raise awareness for the victims of the genocide by Saddam Hussein in his home country - has been volunteering at Kyu-Yo-Bu-Shin football club for the past year and he coaches young people.
Sam has passed his FA Level 2 coaching award and completed his Duke Edinburgh Gold Award. He is now studying engineering and planning a fundraising campaign for a Raleigh International expedition to Costa Rica.
Sam will be following in the footsteps of another Kurd who carried the Olympic flame. Bayad Ali, a 22-year-old from Slemani, carried the torch through the streets of Camblesforth on 19 June.
The Kurdistan Regional Government said: "We are delighted and proud that these young Kurds from our community in Britain have been chosen to carry the flame to mark the special occasion of the London Olympics.
