2010 Ethiopian Airlines Great Ethiopian Run

Addis Ababa – Registration for the 10^th edition of the Great Ethiopian Run, which will be held on Sunday November 21, 2010, opened here today. 

Great Ethiopian Run, the biggest mass participation race in Africa, is an annual event, which attracted 33,000 runners last year. This year’s event is expected to draw close to 35,000. 

Ethiopian Airlines is the “Title Sponsor” for the second year running and has also served as “Travel Sponsor” for the past four. 

Official registration will open on Monday October 4 at Dembel Shopping Center, Hilton Hotel, Tana Market (Merkato) and Mulugeta Zeleke Building (Megenagna). Registration fee for this year will be 60birr if paid in October, with the rate increasing to 80birr in November. 

For the fifth consecutive year, Children’s Races, will take place on Saturday November 20^th. Plan Ethiopia, whose slogan is “Learn Without Fear”, will be the “Title Sponsor” for the second time. A total of 3,500 children aged 11 and under are expected to participate in this race. Of the 30birr registration fee, 10birr will go to the charity campaign “I’m Running for a Child”. 

In celebration of its 10th edition, Great Ethiopian Run is also introducing a new, one lap course, starting and finishing at Meskel square.

Meanwhile, Great Ethiopian Run has signed a two year agreement with the UN to publicize their Millennium Development Goals. Countries from across the globe gathered in New York earlier this month for an MDG summit to review progress and discuss further aims to reach their targets by 2015.  The UN is joining with Great Ethiopian Run for a unified campaign under their slogan, “We can End Poverty – Narrow the Gap – Meet the Goals”.