The Great Ethiopian Run (GER), as it celebrates its 25th anniversary, has ushered in a period of historic achievements and significant international expansion. The popular annual race has officially been recognized as a World Athletics Heritage site, a distinction it now shares with the legendary victory of athlete Abebe Bikila.
Mayor Adanech Abiebie confirmed the receipt of the World Athletics Heritage recognition on her social media page, emphasizing the profound historical significance of running in Ethiopia.
"Running has a great history and place in Ethiopia. Over the past 65 years, Ethiopia has contributed numerous long-distance runners to the world," the mayor stated.
She drew a clear line from Abebe Bikila’s iconic 1960 barefoot gold-medal marathon victory in Rome, noting that his triumph paved the way for subsequent Ethiopian athletes to carry the national flag high on the world stage. The mayor pointed out that the recognition highlights the "international influence of our country and our city in the sports sector."
Mayor Adanech extended gratitude to Athlete Abebe Bikila, GER founder Athlete Major Haile Gebrselassie, and the organizing committee. She pledged future governmental cooperation to further expand the event, with the goal of attracting even more international participants to the city.
Major Partnership with Bank of America
The momentous recognition was followed by another major announcement: the Great Ethiopian Run (GER) has signed a 5-year partnership agreement with Bank of America, effective starting next year.
The agreement solidifies the bank's support for the main 10-kilometer race, as well as the accompanying children's and women's 5-kilometer races.
Bradford Ross, Bank of America's Global Markets and Partnership Specialist, explained the rationale behind the investment. Ross stated that the GER's significant contribution to the community was a key factor, adding that the bank’s decision to come to Ethiopia was driven by a desire to "tap into the substantial growth of the sports-related GDP in Africa."
25th Anniversary Celebration
These announcements were made during the GER's 25th-anniversary celebration, held at Haile Grand, which saw attendance from government officials, current and former athletes, and foreign guests.
During the event, the Great Ethiopian Run recognized numerous long-standing institutional partners, including the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation, Ethiopian Airlines, and the Addis Ababa City Administration. The Great Ethiopian Run staff also presented a special award to the founder and owner of the race, Major Haile Gebrselassie.
The 25th running of the Great Ethiopian Run, which is expected to host 55,000 participants, is scheduled to take place this coming Sunday.
