43,000 take part in Africa's largest race in Ethiopia

By Addis Getachew

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia

Ethiopia’s capital was decked in green, red and yellow Sunday as 43,000 people took part in Africa’s largest running event.

The Great Ethiopian Run -- a 10 kilometer (6 mile) route through Addis Ababa -- saw elite athletes as well as ordinary Ethiopians of all ages and abilities take part.

Legendary distance runner Haile Gebrselassie helped launch the first run in 2001 and it has gone on to become the fifth largest public running event in the world.

“The most important thing is to see people coming out and celebrate,” he told Anadolu Agency.

This year, Ethiopian runner Abe Gashahun won the elite men’s race while Foten Tesfaye, also of Ethiopia, won the women’s event. “Thank God I made it and I know I have to work hard to make it to the top internationally,” she said.

A heavy police presence lined to route amid concerns about anti-government protesters staging a demonstration.