Monday, July 25, 2011

Coca-Cola to partner with Great Ethiopian Run
 Addis Ababa – Coca-Cola, as part of its “Living for a Difference” campaign encouraging Health Active Living, today in partnership with Great Ethiopian Run(GER) has announced a new series of road races to be held in Addis Ababa starting from September this year. It is widely known and endorsed by nutritionists across the world, that exercising regularly leads to a long, happy and healthy life. Coca-Cola in their endeavor to encourage healthy active living, are supporting the sport that Ethiopians are most renowned and world famous for – RUNNING.
For the first time, the sporting event will offer computerized timing for all participants through micro-chips worn in the runners’ shoes. Over 5,000 runners are expected to grace the opening race slated for 18th September. The second and third races are scheduled for October 16 and December 18, 2011 respectively.
The 7km race will start and finish at Megenagna Diaspora Roundabout making one big loop. It runs down on the new stretch of road going past the Kenyan and British Embassy towards Arat Kilo and make left towards Belair and joins the Adwa Bridge road and turns left towards Shola market and finishes back again at the start. Coca-Cola will be providing refreshment and prizes to encourage everybody to come and join in the fun.
Speaking at the launching event of the series, Managing Director for East Africa Bottling Share Company, Mr. Greig Jansen said “We are proud to initiate these races which will create a platform to unearth and nurture new talent that can emulate the achievements of track greats like Haile Gebreselassie”. Mr. Greig Jansen officially handed over the “Timing Chip” to Haile Gebreselassie at the press conference held at the Hilton Hotel, which marked a step change in the history of athletics in Ethiopia.
More than 200,000 birr of cash prizes will be on offer for the elite athletes. This includes a 50,000 birr first prize to both male and female series winners. There are also few lucky draw prizes such as laptops, mobile phones, TV and bikes for participants who will take part in all the three races.
Great Ethiopian Run Board Director Haile Gebreselassie urged the youth to take part in the races so that they can sharpen their skills by competing with the best. “These new series of races with Coca-Cola will open doors to young athletes to become champions and help fun runners to become fit and healthy,” he said.
Great Ethiopian Run General Manager Ermias Ayele said the introduction of chip-timing for all participants was an important development not only for races staged by Great Ethiopian Run but for athletics development in Ethiopia as a whole.  “ The 2011 Coca-Cola Road Race Series will make history for Ethiopia and bring us closer to the standards of timing used at many races around the world, ” he added.
Great Ethiopian Run staff members have already been trained by the British company Sport Systems in the use of the technology.
Registration for the race series will open August 1, 2011 and in addition to Great Ethiopian Run office , there will be four registration centers: Hilton Hotel, Dembel City Center, Tana Merkato and Wabe Shebele Hotel. Participants will get the official race t-shirt and a race number when they register and will collect their chip-timing device on each of the road races. Registration fee is 50birr for one race, 60birr for two race series and 70 birr for all the three race series.
About Coca Cola
The Coca-Cola Company is world’s largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with nearly 500 sparking and still brands. Along with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world’s most valuable brand, the Company’s portfolio including 12 other billion dollar brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, Vitamin water, POWERADE, Minute Maid and Georgia Coffee. Globally, Coca Cola is the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, juices and juice drinks and ready-to-drink teas and coffees.

About Great Ethiopian Run
Great Ethiopian Run, an independent NGO with the mission of staging mass-participation running events in Ethiopia, was started in 2001. In recent years our focus has been on taking mass-participation races to all corners of Ethiopia; developing capacity in the office and event teams which are staffed by Ethiopians; and working with sponsors on a range of publicity campaigns.
Since its inception in 2001 Great Ethiopian Run has staged over 60 races in different parts of Ethiopia.
(http://www.ethiosports.com/)

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