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		2K Plus International Sports Media Quotes: Events XXVIII Olympic Games, Athens, 13-29 Aug 2004 Rugby World Cup, 2003 All Africa Games, 2003 Commonwealth Games, 2002 "More Than Gold" Ministry at the Commonwealth Games, 2002 Sydney Olympics, 2000
		2K Plus International Sports Media Quotes: Sports Football Athletics Cricket Rugby

XXVIII Olympic Games, Athens, 13-29 Aug 2004

South African high jump silver medallist Hestrie Cloete with her jumping shoes

HESTRIE CLOETE, South Africa, silver medal, women's high jump I need to have have faith to be where I'm standing today and if it wasn't for God I wouldn't have been standing here so I think that is the base of track and field (athletics), that's where track and field is built on for me.

RONALD MARK SCHOEMEN, South Africa, part of gold m e dal winning, world-record breaking 4 x 100m freestyle swimming team at Athens Olympics. He also won silver and bronze in individual events You know I stood up behind the blocks (before the final) and I said "my strength is in the Lord" and I said Lord just keep me humble if it your will that we win gold and if it's not I pray that you may guide me forward that I can see what your will really is. Too many times we're clouded by our own judgements and our own desires and my desire at that point was to let God control me. I never pray that anybody else will lose. I just pray that God will help us swim as fast as we can swim. I have a good friend that's on the US Olympics team, Gabe Woodward. I've always believed in God, I've always prayed but prayer was more of a ritualistic thing, it just happened because that's the way I've grown up, but you know he's helped me. He's a drop-dead Christian and he just helped me to see the light.

South African swimmer Roland Mark Schoeman, a committed follower of Jesus Christ, with his gold, silver and bronze medals

Rugby World Cup, 2003

NICK FARR-JONES, Australian 1991 World Cup winning captain
I was recently invited to speak at a Men's Breakfast and the fellow who had invited me was one of the tough, hard and nasty prop forwards at Sydney University. I don't know why, but I was amazed that he'd actually become a Christian. During the course of the morning I said: 'Mate, how did this happen?' And he said: ' I remember going on a tour with Sydney University in 1982 with you and I'd be sitting up at the back of the bus and singing dirty songs and getting stuck into the grog' - you know, I enjoy a can or two myself - but he said: 'I'll never forget, on those bus trips, you used to pull out your Bible for about 20 or 30 minutes and quietly read it on your own. And that's stuck with me.' So it's interesting. You might not think it makes any difference at all at the time, but you'd be surprised how people do watch and observe and do want to find out if there's something there on the other side.

JASON ROBINSON, England 2003 Rugby World Cup squad
I got into professional rugby, and at the time I was probably to immature, too naïve and I went off the rails. I started drinking heavily, in and out of relationships, I had a lot of problems in my life. And when Inga (Tuigamala) came to Wigan he showed me that there was another way and that was Jesus Christ. It's given me a new focus in life. It's changed my life completely really, family-wise - I've got a wonderful family, lovely wife and children - but most of all it's made me stronger as a person. I want to do the things that are right and the Bible gives me clear guidelines of what's right and what's wrong and I can have peace now in that.

ADRIAN GARVEY, Zimbabwe and South Africa
What is my game plan? It's just following the Bible and following God's word, in bringing my children up, in my marriage, in my personal life. I'm not trying to say that I don't sin or anything, I do it daily, but at least I know I'm sinning and the biggest answer is at least I've given my life to the Lord and I know where I'm going when I die.

LOUIS KOEN, South Africa fly half, 2003 Rugby World Cup squad
My mum and dad played a huge part in me getting to know Jesus Christ. I felt that there was a huge love between my mum and dad and I knew that that love wasn't something that just came from nowhere, I knew that God gave it to them. I was very fortunate to be involved in a Bible Study group while I played for Western Province in Cape Town with players like Pieter Rossouw and to see other people, how they live their lives, how they are in a personal relationship with the Lord, it sets an example and it's something that you can follow and it's something you can use to build on your relationship with God as well.

CORNE KRIGE, South Africa 2003 Rugby World Cup captain
Two years ago in church a minister came to speak and his sermon was all about the farmer who had a fantastic crop and then broke everything down and built bigger barns. I at that stage had just sold my house and bought a bigger new house and it was in that week that everything had happened, and I just felt that it was appropriate to me. And the minister said that if God's been speaking to you you should put up your hand. It was a specific word from God, definitely, I got grabbed by the throat and God said to me "You've got to put up your hand and you need to be prayed for today". Since then it's been growth, and it's been understanding and it's been about having a relationship and trying to speak to God and trying to listen to God and trying to hear what he has to say.

TIMO TAGALOA, Samoa, 1991 Rugby World Cup squad
I was 19 years of age, my name was plastered all over the place, played for New Zealand Under 21s, travelled the world for my rugby but yet there was still this emptiness in my life. I came to a point where I thought life wasn't really worth living so I was actually thinking about committing suicide. But later I was with some friends at a shopping mall and it was there that I first heard about who Jesus Christ was. Some Christians were singing songs and handing out pamphlets and on it they were inviting people to a local scout hall so I went down. And a young man there asked me these two questions: "Timo, from a scale of 0 to 100%, if you were to die tonight how sure would you be that you'd spend eternity with God?" And the second question he asked was, "If you were to die tonight and you were to stand before God and God asked you 'Why should I let you into my heaven?' what would you say to him?" And he shared with me how I could know Christ in a personal way. I realised that was what was missing in my life and that night I made the conscious decision to invite him into my life.

MICHAEL JONES, New Zealand, 1987 Rugby World Cup winning team
My relationship with Jesus is the most important component of who I am. It underpins the way I act, the decisions I make, what kind of father I am. He's involved in every aspect of my life whether it's going to work, whether it's being a husband at home, my involvement in the community. And that's the wonderful thing about the Christian faith and having a personal relationship with a God is not an idol or a symbol but actually is so real that he actually lives inside of you through his Holy Spirit. The Bible refers to it as he's closer than any friend or any brother or anything, and that's the kind of intimate relationship that one has.

CHRIS JONES, former Welsh club player and coach of Pontypridd
I'd been sent off a lot of times and banned for six months. The next time I stepped out of line was in a cup match against Cardiff, the referee sent four of us off and obviously the Welsh Rugby Union felt they'd had enough and banned me for life. Eighteen months later I appealed, the WRU were lenient and allowed me back. I'm ashamed to say I let a lot of people down, got into trouble again, badly injured a player and the WRU felt the only thing they could do was to was ban me again. I was up to no good and went to the Brecon Jazz Festival with some guys to cause havoc, as we used to say. I got arrested, charged with wounding with intent, and faced a lengthy term in jail. I was in a police cell and basically I just said "God, if you're there, if you really are there, you've got to help me." And I got to thinking about my life and I just decided to make a decision to commit my life to Jesus Christ. It's so fulfilling, to know that there's a reason to live and I really believe that only committing your life to Jesus Christ can give you a real, deep-seated peace and contentment and fulfilment that nothing else can give. I mean I've tried most of the other things the world has got to offer without a shadow of doubt. I've just found that Jesus' way is best.

All Africa Games, 2003

LONNAH AZIANZU, Uganda, women's softball player
The way they introduced it to us, it's the Christian's best game so those who love the Lord will have to love the game! You find you develop both physically, spiritually and you get to change your attitudes, the bad ones become good. It brings me closer to my God and it makes me change my ways. I was a bad girl, I've changed now, I've changed a lot. I have very many friends and I meet very many people who love the Lord and try to develop myself spiritually with them also. I used to be short-tempered, nowadays I am not.

KAYS KANYANGARARA, Zimbabwe, men's field hockey captain
I'm a Christian so I look to a higher calling and I know I'm not alone even when I'm on the field, I might be the only Christian, but I'm not alone on that field. I believe Christians have got to lead and on the park you've just got to be a man of integrity, be fair and stake out your position.

CARLY HOUGHTON, Zimbabwe, women's hockey player
Working in the medical faculty I see a lot of people dying from AIDS and it breaks my heart and I really just want people to be able to understand the moral way of preventing HIV - abstinence and faithfulness and I think HIV can be conquered if people start life with morals and with greater things than just protection.

ROSE OUMA, Kenya, women's basketball player
God has done a lot of things to me. Since I just finished my secondary school last year I didn't expect to get this far but it's just because of the hand of God that I've been able to get this far within a short time.

MICHAEL OBIORA, Nigeria, men's taekwando competitor
Just me on my own I don't think I can do it. God is there helping me, even before my fight he is there fighting them for me. Just believe that he's there for you, that you've won already. I've been a Christian from my childhood. It makes a big difference in the sense that when you know about Christianity God helps you in life, gives you the belief that something is always there for you.

ANNE FAGBAYI, Project Manager, Multi-Faith Chaplaincy in Games Village
I happen to be the schedule officer to moderate activities, Christian religious activities in particular. We have the responsibility to identify specific groups to ensure that all the Games family have their spiritual needs met. There's a need actually to put the whole programme on a spiritual track and then we can be sure that physically the tracks will be free for good competition, fair competition and the attainment of the ultimate objective of the 8th All Africa Games, that is to bring the Africa family together.

QUINTON ROCK, South Africa, 80g karate competitor
I believe anybody can do any sport as long as they do it towards Christ. Any sport can be made to be a bad sport, it depends on the way you do it and the way you live your life out. The first thing is to behave yourself and not knock the other guy's face in, that's the first thing to have respect for your opponents, but you know I always pray before I go onto the floor and the refs have to wait for me so I believe I can live out my Christianity fully while I'm doing karate.

KEVIN DU PLOY, South Africa, team manager, weightlifting, on team spirit
Tolerance, lots of patience and above all the power from God. He helps us to tolerate one another. And we really work together as a team, we realise that we're part of a bigger picture so we have to play our part to make a success of this venture.

MR CHUKS, More Than Gold Christian outreach team from Nigeria
More Than Gold is a Christian organisation. Our aim, goal, is to reach out to sportsmen and sports lovers through what they love, which is sports. We use that opportunity to reach out to them, tell them the love of Christ that there is something more than gold which is what every athlete is aiming at - that Jesus is more than gold.

Commonwealth Games, 2002

NATALIE DU TOIT, South Africa, 50m & 100m freestyle swimming, Commonwealth Games 2002 gold medallist, Elite Athlete with a Disability
People just treat me the same as I've always been, as I was treated before my accident. They don't treat me as if I'm different or if I've lost a leg and they don't ask if they want to help me and things like that. Obviously my family's always been there, joking about my leg. I love talking about it. And also basically I believe a lot in God and I think that my faith got me through a lot of hard times.

KINGSLEY OHIAERI, Nigeria, 100m, Elite Athlete with a Disability
I became totally blind in1995. There was a point I almost committed suicide because I felt there was no hope anymore. But thank God, the Lord came in to my rescue, and he spoke to me and then I began to understand that actually the Lord is very close to us if only we can draw close to him. He was encouraging me, he was trying to make me understand that I shouldn't lose hope. So I thank the Lord so much. I think he has become a very great inspirator to me.

UCHE NEBEDUM, Deputy Secretary-General, Nigerian Olympic Committee
I'm a child of God and the Bible tells us that all things work good for those that trust God. So I have my hope and trust in the Lord and that he always makes a way where there seems to be no way, and that's how I've been existing and nothing actually seems impossible for me to achieve in life. With God all things are possible.

"More Than Gold" Ministry at the Commonwealth Games, 2002

DAN COOLEY, Kids' football clinics during Commonwealth Games, Manchester, 2002
We've come to put on two sessions of coaching for both boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 14. For the first time some of these kids have been in contact with Christians such as myself who have been playing football for a number of years and at varying different levels. It's been really good. The kids have been very receptive and it's something fresh to see that kids can play football and get some Gospel content from that as well.

CHRISTINE YATES, volunteer with Salvation Army mobile canteen
We've come as volunteers as part of an organisation that's got together with lots of local churches to offer drinks of tea, coffee, cold drinks to the people who pass and also hoping if we possibly can to share some of the love of Jesus with them. Jesus said go out and serve people and that's what we're doing and hopefully the honour will go to God and certainly not for us.

IVOR TELFER, Chair of Management Board, "More Than Gold"
I think the one major thing for me is to know and see that Christians of all different denominations are all involved in doing loads of different things, from the athletes family hosting programme through to sports-based holiday clubs to coaching clinics. I would estimate that there must be somewhere between 500 and 1000 church events going on during the period of the Games.

MURIEL BANKS, Athletes Family Hosting Programme host
Well I think, my husband and I have benefitted a lot. We have met somebody that we would never have met, because we would never have visited that country because it would be far too hot! But it's a different type of person altogether, and someone we've grown very fond of. He's a Muslim, we're Christians but there's so many, many things that we have in common. Perhaps we've been very lucky but we've found somebody who has fitted in to our household admirably, no problems at all.

YUSUF, Athletes Family Hosting Programme guest from The Gambia
Well they (his hosts, Mr and Mrs Banks) are excellent. I really enjoy everything, everything about the Banks family. I'm really pleased. It's a good work. Though I'm not a Christian, this thing is really worth emulating, helping people even though you are from different religious backgrounds, different cultural backgrounds. It's just superb and marvellous. I would just pray that God gives them the strength and the ability to continue doing things like this for people. It is really rewarding.

Sydney Olympics, 2000

JONATHAN EDWARDS, Great Britain, Triple Jump, Gold Medallist
My faith is central to what I'm doing. Most importantly I want to glorify God through my jumping. If that means winning the gold medal then that'll be great, if it isn't, it isn't. My focus is primarily to please God, whatever happens.

SHEILA BURRELL, USA, Heptathlon
I got saved three years ago. Before that my life was crazy. I used to be one of those intense competitors, if you beat me, I didn't like you. God has really had to mould and change all my hardness. I used to run off anger and fear, now I'm just totally inspired by the Word of God and the thing's He's done for me in the past three years.

PAUL TERGAT, Kenya, 10000m, Silver Medallist
So many people, when they lose a gold medal, they cry but for me, it's not the only thing in life. Sport is for enjoying, not for making enemies. We are all special. We all have special gifts. I am able to run. Many can't. The main question is, when we die, where will our soul go? This is not the only life we have. We have a better life to come.

SHERRAINE SCHALM, Canada, Epee Fencer
I'm not really in agreement with athletes who pray for victory. You can pray to do your best with what God has given you. God doesn't say that only Christians are going to win. In the Bible we read that the rain falls on the righteous and unrighteous so it's pretty trite to ask God to be so influential in a really superficial and material part of your life.

BRANDON SLAY, USA, Freestyle Wrestling
The most important thing is to live life with joy - Jesus first, others second, yourself third. God's promise is that everything works out for good, for those who love him. He's given me peace, so that no matter what happens, whether I win the gold medal or not, win or lose, it's under His control.

Football

DIRK HEINEN, goalkeeper, Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany
My sister died of cancer at 38 and I was in complete shock. I thought, what has happened? Up until then I only lived for football. But then with my sister dead I asked myself what is the point of all that when something like this can happen? I started to read the Bible and said, "God, if you exist, then come into my life and fill me with peace and quiet, that peace that money cannot buy". And that is what God did and from that day on I have believed in Jesus Christ.

BRIAN IRVINE, former central defender, Aberdeen and Scotland
Just before I signed for Aberdeen I asked myself the questions, "What's it all about? What's the point? What's the purpose?" And I found the purpose and the point in Jesus Christ. I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. That was the time I became a Christian, the turning point in my life.

LUCIO, central defender, Bayer Leverkusen and World Cup 2002 winner with Brazil
I like to play football and I have a responsibility to my family. Jesus is a big motivation in my family and my work. Before I knew Jesus I did not have a disciplined life. I had low self-esteem. I did not have confidence in the things that I did day by day. Today I don't only want to walk with the Lord, but also, be more disciplined and persevere towards my objectives.

JUAN CARLOS VALERON, Deportivo La Coruna and Spain
Just when we were beginning to get to know God, my father died and before that my brother died. Those were two blows. Let me say that my brother was only thirty years old. We were quite a united family and it was a strong blow. But God graciously cared for us, above all for my sister and my mother who suffered most, and it is certain that without the help of God they could not have coped with my brother's death.

LUIS VIDIGAL, Napoli and Portugal
The change that Jesus made in my life was complete, because I lived believing I could do everything. I trusted in my own capabilities to reach my goals in relation to my family, as well as socially and professionally, but in reality this did not happen. From the moment that I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour everything turned lighter. I learned how to forgive, to receive the request of pardon, to help. Without a doubt my life has been transformed.

ZE ROBERTO, Bayern Munich and Brazil
Aside from the fame, the money, from not being able to have anything and today being able to have everything, I find that the difference is to have God in my heart, by accepting Jesus. The money will finish, fame will be forgotten, but God is special. Today I have God and tomorrow I will live with God in a much better place, that is, heaven.

Athletics

KRISS AKABUSI, Great Britain, 400m hurdles, Olympic bronze medallist, 1992
I have to talk about the effect that God has had in my life and the way that my life has changed for the good, the way that I feel in the morning when I wake up and I talk to somebody, I feel as though I am talking to a person and prayers are often answered, often in the negative but answered they are nonetheless. I just feel that over the last 12 years I have a presence in my life that wasn't there before, I call that God.

NATASHA DANVERS, Great Britain, 400m hurdles, World University Games champion 2001
I couldn't have done what I did today without God because in past times I would have just like given up after I made such a catastrophe of hurdles two and three. But last night I was at a Christian convention and I didn't get home until 12.30 because I got the wrong train and without Jesus, without God I couldn't have got the energy top do what I did today.

JULIAN GOLDING, Great Britain, 200m, Commonwealth Games champion 1998
I've got Jesus to rely on and that helps take away the burdens and the pressures of track and field. Other athletes, they only see track and field. When it goes bad for them their whole world crumbles before them because that's all they see. But at least I know that I've got something greater than track and field, I've got Jesus Christ to look at and if things don't quite go according to how I want it to go, then at least I can focus on him and use him as a source of inspiration and strength.

TONY JARRETT, Great Britain, 110m hurdles
Without God I wouldn't be here and He's very vital in my life. Being a Christian's not easy. I'm still learning but God is good and He helps me and I know He's there through my good times and my bad times. As Christians everybody looks for you to be a perfect Christian but we are not always perfect, we make mistakes. So it is hard but it's getting easier.

Cricket

SURUJ RAGOONATH, Trinidad & Tobago and West Indies
My personal faith in God has to be the major thing in my life because the attaining of the goal to play for West Indies was as a result of faith and confidence in God. It was a blessing to play for the West Indies, so playing for the West Indies cannot be the highlight of my life. It was the highlight of my cricketing career but the highlight of my life is knowing that Christ died for me, he gave himself for me and that at the end there is something greater. My faith encourages me that no matter what happens God is going to be there for me and that is certainly more assuring and more comforting than playing cricket at any level.

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