On a sunny day, Sunday morning, regards to the organizers, 25,000 men and women of all ages dressed in green, yellow, and red sporting jerseys brought color and a sense of optimism to the capital, as one of the liveliest and most colorful races globally and is often referred to as Ethiopia’s biggest street party.
The Great Ethiopian Run has been a flagship event every year since 2001, racing to 10km distance. Although Recent events have hindered the festival due to Covid-19 and a year-long Tigray conflict.
The festive resonates the cheering outside, jumping, jostling people were accidentally elbowing one another in the ribs or the face. But all the while, they were grinning.
After a distressing year of conflict and chaos, PM Abiy Ahmed mentioned the country is now behind poverty and backwardness, conflict, war, and division. As a country, we should be moving forward to achieve prosperity and civilization, peace and tolerance, unity and understanding.
Over the past two decades, the Great Run has brought together hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians; Once a year, it made them focus on peace, love, and fellowship. While praising my strength in the Great Run, not only in terms of the contribution of the event to athletics but also in creating Ethiopian unity, Ethiopian connection, and Ethiopian rapprochement, we have begun a great event that is not limited to race, language, and religion.
Citizens who could not join in the religious festivities embraced the great race; People who could not unite at the national anthem met together in anticipation of the great race.