Kenenisa Bekele’s Field of Dreams

Sululta, Ethiopia – Some men build a basketball court in their driveway or convert their garage into a recreation room but Kenenisa Bekele has gone to another extreme.

The 5000m and 10000m world record holder has built a six lane all-weather track in the picturesque district of Sululta, which lies just 25 minutes outside the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa and at an altitude of 2750m.

Across the road he has also constructed a 30 room hotel that will house athletes wishing to take advantage of Bekele’s ‘field of dreams’.

Another 80 room hotel will be completed within the next six months. This one stands a few hundred metres away and is another part of a vision that Bekele, a three-time Olympic champion, has for supporting athletics in his native Ethiopia.

“I am so happy and proud of this,” said Bekele, during a tour for foreign visitors of the impressive facilities. Read more