By: Fistum Getachew
It is now 25 years since the beginning of the Great Ethiopian Run has been conceived and initiated by the one and only internationally renowned, multiple record-breaker and multiple winner of contests such as the Olympics, the World Championships and cross country races, Major Haile Gebreselassie. By many parameters Haile Gebreselassie is considered arguably the most successful runner of all times. More than any sportsmen Haile has conceived and launched this great event called the Great Ethiopian Run in 2001 that is 25 years ago. The race now has become the symbol of Ethiopian athletics, a festival of citizens as well as foreigners not only residents here but also others who come to Ethiopia to enjoy themselves by being a part of this international yearly event and pass some leisure here taking the contest as a wonderful opportunity.
Along the past two and a half decades the Great Ethiopian Run has continued to grow and attract more and more attention at the international level. The Great Ethiopian Run has become one of the most famous identity cards of Ethiopia particularly in the sports world. It is well known that Ethiopia is reputed for being the origin of many reputed athletes who have shined in practically every medium and long distance race.
The first Ethiopian gold medalist at the Olympics was the late Captain Abebe Bikila who was then a private in the Imperial Body Guard of Emperor Haile Selassie. That famous marathon race on the streets of Rome in 1960 has passed to the history books of athletics because of the fact that he ran ‘the killer race’ barefooted! That was an extraordinary exploit and people continue to marvel at that. He took by surprise Italians to see an Ethiopian win running a marathon race in their backyards barefooted.
Since this milestone, Ethiopians have been inspired and the various other famous runners were born in Ethiopia. To cite just a few, Abebe inspired Mamo Wolde and Miruz Yifter whereas then came Haile Gebre Selassie and Kenenisa Bekele, the first Ethiopian female gold medalist Derartu Tulu who achieved this exploit at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. We can also mention the first Ethiopian female marathon winner at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics Fatuma Roba and several others who shone at multiple races adding fame and glory to Ethiopia. In fact, we consider them as true ‘ambassadors’ who have contributed to the image of Ethiopia as the birth place of renowned and record breaking athletes.
The idea and realization of the Great Ethiopian Run should be understood and appreciated in this context. Thanks go to the passion of Haile Gebreselassie who pioneered this great yearly event and turned it into a huge attraction not only for Ethiopians but also foreigners. Many people have admired the great idea of the initiation of the Great Ethiopian Run which is now a very fascinating occasion in which not only professional athletes but even amateurs who have the passion to run or even jog enjoying themselves with friends and family.
The Great Ethiopian Run is now a yearly appointment where runners from all over Ethiopia gather to take part. In fact it has developed into being a yearly festival not to be missed as it is also considered as a special leisure and an opportunity to take part in some charity work because it is known that the income that is derived from the fees for registration to run is gathered and handed over to organisations that take care of orphans, the elderly and similar disadvantaged people.
At the same time, the Great Ethiopian Run has produced very famous athletes such as Kenenisa Bekele who was then to shine by becoming an extraordinarily talented champion helping the image of Ethiopia attain very lofty international acclaims. For many it has been a starter and an inspiration for the young generation who want to follow the footsteps of Haile Gebre Selassie and others.
The Great Ethiopian road race is not only a single running contest but also a venue where many important social messages are transmitted given its wide coverage in the media including a live transmission on EBC which is one of the sponsors of the event. This year the main sponsor is reported to be the soft drink called Sofi Malt. At the same time people are encouraged to help raise funds to assist charitable organisations. The sponsors of the great run have been instrumental to the success of the run and have raised substantial funds besides encouraging others to join the contest and contribute to the achievement of its objectives. The prize money has also been substantially increasing by reaching the height of four hundred thousand birr for the winners in both male and female categories. The number of international athletes particularly from East Africa who have taken part in this prestigious road race has increased. So many foreigners who reside in Addis have also been taking part in this event contributing to more popularity of the race which takes place in the city considered as the capital of Africa.
This year’s Great Ethiopian Run has attained a new historical milestone of its Silver Jubilee without any interruption in between. This has earned it international recognition from the International Association of Athletics Federation. Ethiopia has received the recognition for the role of the Great Ethiopian Run and for Captain Abebe Bikila winner of the first gold medal of the marathon race barefooted at the Rome Olympics in 1960. .
The recognition ceremony was held at the National Museum and it was noted that sports play a significant role in the revival of the tourism sector. In a message delivered by Addis Ababa City Mayor Adanech Abebe, on the occasion of the recognition program, she said running has a great history and place in Ethiopia. The Great Ethiopian Run can be cited as a significant demonstration of this in Ethiopia.
In this regard the contribution of the Great Ethiopian Run cannot be underestimated. For this success the maximum credit must be given to Haile Gebre Selassie who is leaving such a famous legacy and Ethiopians of all walks of life will be grateful for this.
Talking about the success of this event across the years, Haile has noted the mountain of obstacles and challenges he had to cope with before reaching such a milestone. He said there were times when he was so desperate that he could not help it but shed some tears of discomfort. Clearly this is the demonstration of his commitment to this event and how much highly linked he is to this scheme. He must have thought that if the race failed his name would have risked to be linked to failure, something that he has always abhorred. Haile says he does not accept defeats just as in the incalculable races in which he competed. Even the perception of a failure disturbs him. He said that it was an immense responsibility to embark upon such an event and he needed to deliver.
The Great Ethiopian Run is now a trade mark of Ethiopian athletics now that it has also deserved and obtained international recognition. It is known that it has also attracted many foreigners who reside in Addis. For instance 44 ambassadors will take part in this race and there is a special contest as well between them. Participants also transmit important even international social messages taking advantage of the wide media coverage both live and reported.
With the completion of the many rehabilitative activities that relate to making Addis Ababa a more beautiful and healthier city to live in with the Corridor Development Project, this year’s run will be special, more comfortable and beautiful. It will show the real image of the undertakings that have brought Addis to the standards of many modern and renowned international cities. In this regard, the delight of the participants will also be greater. Hence, we can conclude that the Great Ethiopian Run is not merely a road race as many may rush to judge it. It is and has even become a yearly rendezvous where friends can meet and have some leisure together across the past 25 years.
