Ethiopian Informer
ADDIS ABABA: June 21 (Ethiopian Informer) — Africa’s largest annual road race, the Great Ethiopian Run (GER), is set to host 45,000 participants in its upcoming edition slated for November this year, organizers disclosed on Friday.
Ermias Ayele, Director of GER, told the Ethiopian Informer on Friday that the 2019 edition of GER will have an additional 1,000 participants, uplifting the total number of participants to 45,000, eventually marking a new record in the race’s history.
The GER 2019 edition, which is scheduled to be held on November 17, is expected to bring together tens of thousands of professional and amateur runners along the main streets of Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa.
“Our estimates suggest that there are currently in excess of 10,000 people who want to register for GER,” Ermias, told the Ethiopian Informer, adding “The addition of 1,000 more participants for this year’s race is part of our plan to accommodate all interested runners.”
Ermias further said Great Ethiopian Run plans to increase the number of foreign runners from the previous 500 to around 2,000 in few years’ time.
The 10km GER was commenced in 2001 by Ethiopia’s long distance running legend Haile Gebreselassie as part of his ambition to turn running from an elite sport into a hobby for the general public.
