Sport Stories from Around the African Commonwealth

As part of Africa in Motion (AiM) Film Festival’s commonwealth programme, Sports Stories from around the African Commonwealth, Oban Phoenix is screening The Athlete, a story of Olympic legend Abebe Bikila and his epic attempt to be the first person to win consecutive Olympic Gold medals in the marathon.

Running the streets of Rome in 1960, an unknown, barefoot Ethiopian man stunned the world by winning Olympic gold in the marathon. Overnight, Abebe Bikila became an Olympic legend. A hero in his own country and on the continent, Bikila was the first African to win a gold medal and, four years later in Tokyo, the first person in history to win consecutive Olympic gold medals in the marathon. This soldier and quiet son of a shepherd is considered by many to be the greatest long-distance runner in history.

But his life story only began with Olympic medals. One evening while returning to his home in Addis Ababa after training in the Ethiopian countryside, fate would present this remarkable champion with his greatest challenge; to dig deep within, not just to run the next mile but to find the will to live. The race of his life had a new beginning and would lead him to places he could never have imagined.

This film is part of the the Africa in Motion programme which will include over 20 films from across the African Commonwealth, allowing Scotland Commonwealth spectators to watch boxing in Ghana, cycling in Rwanda, long-distance running in Kenya, surfing in South Africa, football in Nigeria and much more. The festival will use sport to highlight some of the main aims of the Commonwealth including HIV/AIDS awareness, democracy, refugee and asylum seekers and the history of slavery. Viewers will be taken on a visual journey through the African Commonwealth highlighting triumphs and key challenges through sports.

This event is free but booking is recommended.