Ethiopia’s Main Beijing Team will start arriving Aug. 11 - Aug. 15
August 6th, 2008 | EthioPolitics.com |APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) — Wednesday AUG. 6, the first squad of coaches, supporting staff and the boxing team traveled to Beijing to attend the opening ceremony while other members of the delegation stayed behind.
According to a release from the Ethiopian Athletics Federation, the Ethiopian athletes will travel to Beijing in three categories beginning next Monday.
According to the trip schedules, the first team, which consists of runners competing in the 1500m, 3000m, and 10,000m, will fly on Monday (Aug. 11).
In this category, world known Ethiopian athletes Tirunesh Dibaba and her elder sister Ejigayehu Dibaba and Mestawet Tufa will travel to compete for the 10,000 metres women’s race, while in the 3,000 metres men’s race, Nahom Mesfin, Roba Gari and Yakob Jarso will participate.
In the women’s 3,000 metres race, Mekdes Bekele, Zemzem Ahmed and Sofia Mekonnen are participating, while in the men’s 1,500 metres race, Derese Mekonnen, Doma Dama and Mulugeta Wondimu will participate.
According to the scheduled flight program, the second team, comprising athletes for the Marathon and 10 kilometre race, will leave Addis on the 13th August in which many of Ethiopia’s best athletes are included.
The third team will fly to Beijing on the 15th August, which will include contestants in the 1500 and 5000 metres; and the last Ethiopian squad will leave on the 18th August, which will be exclusively composed of marathon runners.
On Wednesday, the first squad, comprising coaches, supporting staff and athletes from the boxing discipline will travel to Beijing to attend the opening ceremony while many of the other members of the delegation will miss the opening ceremony.
Former athlete Miruts Yifter, the only Ethiopian athlete to have won two gold medals in one Olympic in the 5,000 and 10,000 metres a decade ago will lead Ethiopia’s Olympic team to the opening ceremony.
“This travel program was made, taking into consideration the running programs for the athletes. We found it necessary for the athletes to stay here than going to early Beijing,” the Federation said.