Ethiopia’s distance running legend and multiple world record holder Haile Gebrselassie was among the first global figures to congratulate Kenya on the successful bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championship on Tuesday.
Gebrselassie, one of Ethiopia’s foremost businessmen with massive interests in the hotel and automobile industries, agriculture and sports, was also among the big supporters of the Nairobi bid, even recording his personal goodwill message in Nairobi‘s official bid video.
“I’d like to congratulate Kenya. And when I congratulate Kenya, I indirectly congratulate ourselves and the rest of Africa as well,” Gebrselassie said.
“That the World Athletics Championship is coming to Africa for the first time is wonderful news. I’m proud for Nairobi having been awarded this championship.
“I want to say ‘thank you’ to the people who voted for Kenya… in voting to Nairobi, you indirectly voted for Africa and this is wonderful.
“I’m proud about that and for the next two years, let us prepare together and host the best championship here in Africa. We will do it together. Thank you.”
Gebrselassie organises the annual Great Ethiopian Run and on Tuesday, the Run’s General Manager Dagmawit Amare joined in congratulating Nairobi for the bid win.
