Mo: I’m on track for emotional farewell to fans at Olympic Park
Harry Potter and the youth vote: boy wizard beats the Bard as symbol of Britishness
YOUNG people believe Harry Potter represents Britain more than the Queen or William Shakespeare, a survey suggests today.
According to the Co-op’s Great British Pride Index, the fictional wizard instils more British pride in 16 to 24-year-olds than the monarch or the Bard.
For both the over-55s and Generation Z, the NHS tops the poll as the number one source of pride. But for the younger members of the population, only fish and chips and a cup of tea can beat J K Rowling’s creation into fourth place.
For older Britons, the Queen takes second place and the armed forces, the Houses of Parliament and pomp and ceremony all make an appearance in the top 10. The poll also revealed the main characteristics that people feel define SIR MO FARAH has told how he is ready to bid an emotional goodbye to track racing, saying that all good things “come to an end”.
Britain’s most successful athlete told the Standard he would be feeling “every emotion” when he completes his final races at London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park this summer. Sir Mo, the current world and Olympic champion in both the 5,000 and 10,000 metres, will first compete in the Müller Anniversary Games on July 9 before defending his world titles in August.
He will then concentrate on marathon running and long-distance road races. He said: “When I get on the track, it will be every emotion. This will literally be one of my last London track races. Everything Britishness. Sixteen to 24-year-olds see sarcasm as the number one trait. For those aged 55 or over, the British tendency to queue tops the list.
There is also a clear difference between men and women too, the survey suggests. For a fifth of men, a pint and the football are the two things that make them most proud to be British. For women, it is Wimbledon and Big Ben. Jemima Bird, customer director at Co-op Food, said: “It’s encouraging to see that across the generations there’s a great sense of pride in British traditions.” in life comes to an end and for me that is this year.
“I will definitely be emotional for sure. I think it is a good thing I only have one or two [races] left.”
Sir Mo, 34, said the 2012 Olympics “changed everything for me” and he felt “pretty incredible” every time he set foot in the stadium. “The London Olympic games changed my career, how I run,” he said. “It is what we [ath- letes] dream of. That moment will never happen again. Being in my home town, it is very, very special.”
The father of four said the Anniversary Games will be “a fun event and the stepping stone” to the World Championships, adding that he was excited to be in front of his fans for the last time. Speaking while training in the south of France, Sir Mo said his next aim was to win the London Marathon. “I will do it [marathon running] for a few years, maybe to 2020. The big one for me is London. Maybe then I will retire.”
Sir Mo, who is based in Oregon with his family, said he wanted to move back to London “as soon as possible”.
For tickets to see the world’s best athletes and one of Sir Mo Farah’s last track appearances at the Müller Anniversary Games on July 9, go to britishathletics.org.uk