UK Athletics approve Mo Farah appearing on this year’s ‘I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!’ series providing the ITV show does not affect the Team GB athlete’s Olympic hopes
- Mo Farah is set to appear in this year’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here series
- The 2020 series will be based in North Wales and not in Australia due to Covid-19
- UK Athletics allowed the move so long as it does not impact his Olympic plans
- Farah is aiming to defend his 5,000m and 10,000m Olympic titles next summer
Mo Farah‘s spot on this year’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! series has been approved by UK’s Athletics chiefs – providing it does not affect his Olympic preparations.
The four-time Olympic champion will take place in the popular ITV celebrity challenge show next month, which will be taking place in North Wales this year as opposed to Australia due to coronavirus health risks.
Farah is aiming to compete in the rearranged Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games next summer, but the ‘Bushtucker Trials’ involve demanding physical tasks and a lack of regular food is a particular challenge for certain contestants.
Mo Farah is allowed to go on I’m A Celebrity this year providing it doesn’t affect his fitness
The 2020 series will be held in Gwrych Castle in North Wales, not in Australia, due to Covid-19
But UK Athletics chief executive Jo Coates was quoted by The Sun saying: ‘As a marketer, to have athletes in mainstream TV shows is just perfection.
‘However – and a big however – you would never want to do that to the detriment of performance. I’d imagine there have been lengthy conversations. If he is there, there will have been lengthy conversations about whether this would affect performance.
‘The fact that it’s in Wales and not as long a time is very different from many weeks in Australia. Part of our communications strategy is about reaching a new audience. That’s what we have to do.
Farah can compete in the show providing it doesn’t impact his Tokyo 2020 preparations
Farah will be hoping to defend his 5,000m and 10,000m Olympic titles that he won in Rio 2016
‘Shows like that take our athletes to a completely different audience. But I would never condone it to the detriment of performance because ultimately that’s what they do.’
Farah will be hoping to defend his 10,000m world Olympic title, which he won at both London 2012 and Rio 2016.
The Briton is also currently a double-Olympic champion in the men’s 5,000m race, but quit track events to focus on the marathon.
But it was revealed in late last year that Farah will be returning to regain his title in both events in the Japanese capital next year.
Farah (right) is Team GB’s most successful track athlete having won two golds at London 2012
He told his YouTube channel last year: ‘I’m going to be back on the track and I’m going to give it a go in the 10,000m.
‘Hopefully I haven’t lost my speed but I will train hard for it and see what I can do. I’m really excited.’
This year’s edition of I’m a Celebrity will take place in Gwrych Castle in northern Wales which is known by locals as a haunted castle, with the new series airing in November.
