Addis Ababa Nov 23 (IANS) Kenyan Olympic champion Vivian Cheruiyot will be a guest of honour at the Great Ethiopian Run (GER) an Ethiopian official said.
GER Director Ermias Ayele said the invitation to Cheruiyot the 2016 Rio Olympics 5 000 metre champion is part of a wider strategy to introduce the annual 10-km road race to the wider world reports Xinhua news agency.
The mayor of Addis Ababa city Diriba Kuma will be another guest of honour at the road race.
Ethiopia is a fierce competitor with southern neighbour Kenya in the middle distance and long-distance competitions as both countries worked in recent years to advertise their countries as international running destinations.
According to Ayele the 10 km race is expected to have a record 47 500 runners.
The road race will also feature participation of 2 000 foreigners from Ethiopia s expat community and tourists.
"The race is part of GER s efforts to promote running and healthy lifestyle among the Ethiopian public " Ayele said.
The race was initiated in 2001 by Ethiopian running legend Haile Gebreselassie as part of his efforts to turn running from an elite sport into a hobby.
--IANS
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