Picture - Beijing 2008 Olympic gold medallist Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia (L) is welcomed by an unknown official at the stadium in Addis Ababa August 27, 2008.
REUTERS/Irada Humbatova (ETHIOPIA)
The Ethiopian Olympic team arrived home to a hero’s welcome
Wednesday, as thousands of ecstatic fans lined up the capital’s
streets to greet the track stars.
The team, led by double gold
medallists Kenenisa Bekele and Tirunesh Dibaba, was greeted by
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and other government
officials as they stepped off their plane at the capital’s Bole
Airport.
They were then paraded on a convoy of black, open-top
Cadillacs amid chanting fans that crammed almost every street
pavement that stretched for a few miles.
“Kenenisa and Tirunesh were absolutely fantastic in Beijing.
They really deserve such welcoming,” one fan said of the
enthusiasm shown in the athletics-mad nation.(MORE...)
Ethiopia sets up national committee to welcome home Olympic athletes
Ethiopia has established a national committee to welcome its Olympic athletes from Beijing.
The national committee is established by the Ethiopian Ministry of Youth and Sports, together with the Ethiopian Athletics Federation and the Ethiopian Olympic Committee.
Accordingly, the national committee will organize a special welcome ceremony for the athletes as well as organize various prizes for them. The athletes are expected to arrive in Addis Ababa on Wednesday, and thousands of people are expected to welcome them on their arrival at the airport and on their way to the center of Addis Ababa, home to close to five million people.(MORE...)
L to R - Sileshi, Kenenisa, Tirunesh, Meseret and Tsegaye - 2nd in Africa 18th in the overall medal standings -
Ethiopia reaps rewards from hard work
Ethiopia collected four gold, one silver and 2 bronze medals. Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba and Kenenisa Bekele both cruised to victory for the 10,000 and 5,000 metres,
the first time the double has been achieved since the 1980 Games.
Ethiopia’s Olympic success stems from a strong culture of athletics.
Kenya finished third place in the overall standings for
track and field behind the United States and Russia.
- and now ahead of Ethiopia. Ethiopia was No. 1 among the African nations in Athens and four years earlier in Sydney.
Kebede of Ethiopia wins Marathon bronze
THE men’s marathon was full of drama and intensity, as Sammy Wanjiru of Kenya survived the suicidal early pace to claim first gold medal in the marathon for his country, adding to their impressive tally of five gold medals.
Ethiopia’s Tsegaye Kebede won the bronze medal, having passed Merga in the final 400m, who almost walked the final 200m, such was the effort he exerted.
Kenenisa - 4th Gold
August 23, 2008 - Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele cemented his position as the world's leading distance runner and joined some exalted company when he clinched an Olympic double yesterday.
The 26-year-old added the 5,000-metre title to the 10,000 he retained last Sunday – he holds the world record in both – to match such exalted runners as Lasse Viren of Finland (1972, 1976), Czech Emil Zatopek (1952) and compatriot Miruts Yifter (1980).
"This is very special for myself and my country," said the three-time 10,000 world champion, who with Tirunesh Dibaba swept all four men's and women's distance events for Ethiopia.
"It was a fantastic day for me. I was so happy to achieve this performance. ... It's not easy to achieve double gold in the Olympics."
REUTERS PHOTO - Gold medallist Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia (R) poses with bronze medallist Meseret Defar of Ethiopia during the medal ceremony for the women's 5000m event of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 22, 2008.
Unstoppable Tirunesh does it Again! 3rd Gold For Ethiopia (Meseret gets
Bronze)
(August 22, 2008) - Ethiopia's
Tirunesh Dibaba won
the gold medal late on Day 14 at
the National Stadium in the
women's 5,000 metres, helping
her achieve an unprecedented
feat.
In a slow race, Dibaba
finished in 15 minutes, 41.40
seconds. She won the 10,000
metres earlier in the
competition and becomes the
first women to win Olympic gold
in both races.
Defending Olympic champion
Meseret Defar of Ethiopia won
bronze, in 15:44.12.
[Addis Ababa - Ethiopia] Residents of Addis watch the Beijing Olympics on a giant sonic screen at Maskal Square. (Capital Photo)
August 23, 2008 - Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele cemented his position as the world's leading distance runner and joined some exalted company when he clinched an Olympic double yesterday.
