33 athletes confirmed to represent Ethiopia at the Olympics
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which has been in constant jeopardy for the past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is just 30 days away. Until the past month, whether Tokyo will be able to host the Games had been in doubt, with large sections of the Japanese population opting against the event.
The preliminary trial competitions in various cities have been completed and preparations are underway for the remaining weeks with athletes getting vaccinated.
The Ethiopian Athletics team is preparing to send33 athletes after the annual athletics championships at Addis Ababa stadium, Sebeta, and Hengelo trial races were held.
It can be recalled that in 1964, Tokyo hosted the first Summer Olympics and a first Paralympic Games making Japan the only Asian country to host the Summer Olympics for the second time. In addition, in 1972 Japan hosted the Winter Olympics in the cities of Sapporo and in 1998 in Nagano.
Japan, in its bid to host the Games, has been receiving complaints from various countries into the safety of the Games. However, a group of seven (G-7) leaders released a statement supporting Japan’s commitment to hold the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in a “safe and secure manner.”
In this regard, President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach said “We welcome the message of support of the G7 leaders for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, to be held this summer.”
The Games, scheduled to be held from July 22 to August 8, will host 33 sports in 339 events. Meanwhile, Tokyo will host five new sports field, baseball/softball, Karate, Skateboarding, Sport Climbing, and Surfing, while 15 new events will enrich the existing sports, including mixed-gender competitions.
Furthermore, it is estimated that 11,091 athletes from 205 nations would take part in the Games and 29 athletes will represent refugee camps.
Ethiopia’s Abebe Bikila, in Rome and Tokyo, Mamo Wolde, in Mexico (1968), and Miruts Yifter in Moscow (1980) have all been on the podium.
And in recent times, Derartu Tulu’s achievements in Barcelona, Haile GebreSelassie in Atlanta, Sydney, and Athens in 2004, Kenenisa Bekele and Tirunesh Dibaba’s 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medal performance can be recalled.
Elsewhere, Solomon Barega, Yomif Kejelcha, Getnet Wale, and Nibret Melak will be expected to represent Ethiopia at this year’s Tokyo Olympics.
Gudaf Tsegay, Ejigayehu Taye, and Senbere Teferi are expected to represent Ethiopia in the women’s long-distance races.
