Professional athlete Mo Farah has joined the UN migration agency IOM as its first global goodwill ambassador. The four-time Olympic gold medal winner, who was trafficked to Britain as a child from Somalia, has served as a migrant rights advocate for several years.
Farah, who had retired from professional competition earlier this year, said he wants to help people to overcome their experiences as migrants.
The 40-year-old was appointed to the post by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) during the UN agency's annual main gathering.
"Becoming a global goodwill ambassador for IOM gives me a chance to help people -- people like me," Farah said.
The athlete said he would use his new position to raise awareness of migrant issues.
Also read: Olympic great Mo Farah reveals he was trafficked to UK at age 9, forced to be child servant
A life in the shadows
Farah kept details about his background hidden for much of his career, but revealed in July 2022 that he was trafficked into the UK when he was eight or nine years old.
Farah, whose real name is Hussein Abdi Kahin, journeyed to the UK via Djibouti under a false identity with a woman he had never met before. Upon arrival, he was forced into child labor.
"No child should ever go through what I did; victims of child trafficking are just children. They deserve to be children. They deserve to play and to be kids," said Farah, who after being trafficked became estranged from his true family for years.
Prior to revealing his real background, the professional athlete claimed he'd moved to the UK as a refugee from Somalia with his parents.
Also read: Arale's story: 'Wherever I go in Somalia, people haunt me'
The power of sports
IOM chief Amy Pope said Farah was a "champion on and off the track" who brought "true dedication, commitment and drive to IOM's work, helping millions of people on the move and inspiring us all."
Farah said he plans to serve as an advocate for the power of sport to change lives -- especially for women and girls.
"I was able to take the opportunity sport offered me to overcome my experiences as a young boy and show that no matter what we look like or what we sound like, we can achieve and overcome great things," he said.
Farah's accomplishments include winning the 5,000 and 10,000 meters gold medals at both the London 2012 Olympics and the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics.
Also read: 5-person refugee team competes at European Games in Poland
with AFP