Ethiopia’s engagement in the World Olympic arena. Tezera Asegu / London, United Kingdom/ 1 25/07/2012 A brief history of the Olympic game The beginning of the Olympic game back dated in 776 BC and started in the legendary city of Olympia, in the south west Greek. The game were part of the Greek religious festivity and held in honouring the king of The Greek Gods Called "Zeus“. The people in the city of Olympia used to run in group to honour the Gods and the present Olympic games adapted and devoted to fortify this consecrated notion. The modern Olympic began in 1896 and the Game has been carried out for about 2,700 years. 2 25/07/2012 Ethiopia and the Ethiopian Olympian involvement in the Olympics. Ethiopia made her first Olympic appearance in 1956 at Melbourne Olympic game, in Australia. Ethiopia first debut in the Olympic was in cycling and represented by the legendary cyclist Geremew Dimbaba and finished 24th which was an impressive result that paved the way the Ethiopian Olympic committee to be established. Gashaw and Birihanu participated in Marathon finished outstandingly 18th and 19th. Mamo Wolde and Abebe Bikila participated as 100 meters Sprinting at Melbourne Olympic. 3 25/07/2012 During the Melbourne Olympic a suggestion made Abebe Bikila and Mamo Wolde to compete in Marathon. Taking in to account this proposal the two legendary athletes made them selves ready to race at the 1960 Rome Olympic in Marathon . Four Years later Abebe Bikila set a world record running in barefoot; this impressive achievements stunned the world and opens the eyes of all Ethiopians and the African at large to take part in the upcoming world Olympics passionately. 4 25/07/2012 From this time on words 12 years later in 1980 Moscow Olympic the legendary runner Mirus Yifter would make history in winning double gold in 5000 and 10,000 athletics races. In the 1988 Seoul Olympic Belaineh Densimo re-write history and set a world Marathon record that paved the way new talented runners like Hadush Abebe , Derartu Tulu , Haile Gebresilase , Abera Gezahign , Milion Wolde, Fatuma Roba , Elfinish Kidane ,Gete Wami, Kenenisa bekele and others to emerge and they fetched a lot of Golds , Silvers and Bronze medals in Olympics and other international athletics competitions. 5 25/07/2012 The clock is ticking for London Olympic The Ethiopian Olympic competitors are here in London and have made every effort our flag to raise and blow again at the Olympic field here in our door step in London ,United Kingdom. Let us come together as usual provide a big applaud and encourage our brothers their dream to become true. It is also the time to exploit the opportunity to share the extraordinary culture of Ethiopia to the globe and divulge the current image of our beloved country Ethiopia. 6 25/07/2012 Images and profile of the legend & renowned athletes of Ethiopia 7 25/07/2012 8 25/07/2012 Medallists Medal Name Games Sport Event 1960 Rome 1 Gold Bikila, Abebe Athletics Men's marathon 1 Gold Bikila, Abebe 1964 Tokyo Athletics Men's marathon 1 Gold Wolde, Mamo 1968 Mexico City Athletics Men's marathon 2 Silver Wolde, Mamo 1968 Mexico City Athletics Men's 10000 metres 3 Bronze Yifter, Miruts 1972 Munich Athletics Men's 10000 metres 3 Bronze Wolde, Mamo 1972 Munich Athletics Men's marathon 1 Gold Yifter, Miruts 1980 Moscow Athletics Men's 5000 metres 1 Gold Yifter, Miruts 1980 Moscow Athletics Men's 10000 metres 3 Bronze Kedir, Mohamed 1980 Moscow Athletics Men's 10000 metres 9 25/07/2012 Medallists Men's 3000 metre Bronze Tura, Eshetu 1980 Moscow Athletics steeplechase Women's 10000 1 Gold Tulu, Derartu 1992 Barcelona Athletics metres 3 Bronze Bayisa, Fita 1992 Barcelona Athletics Men's 5000 metres 3 Bronze Abebe, Addis 1992 Barcelona Athletics Men's 10000 metres 1 Gold Gebrselassie, Haile 1996 Atlanta Athletics Men's 10000 metres 1 Gold Roba, Fatuma 1996 Atlanta Athletics Women's marathon Women's 10000 3 Bronze Wami, Gete 1996 Atlanta Athletics metres 1 Gold Wolde, Million 2000 Sydney Athletics Men's 5000 metres 10 25/07/2012 Medallists Gold Gebrselassie, Haile 2000 Sydney Athletics Men's 10000 metres Women's 10000 1 Gold Tulu, Derartu 2000 Sydney Athletics metres 1 Gold Abera, Gezahegne 2000 Sydney Athletics Men's marathon Women's 10000 2 Silver Wami, Gete 2000 Sydney Athletics metres 3 Bronze Mezgebu, Assefa 2000 Sydney Athletics Men's 10000 metres Women's 5000 3 Bronze Wami, Getei 2000 Sydney Athletics metres 3 Bronze Tola, Tesfaye 2000 Sydney Athletics Men's marathon 1 Gold Bekele, Kenenisa 2004 Athens Athletics Men's 10000 metres 11 25/07/2012 Medallists Women's 5000 Gold Defar, Meseret 2004 Athens Athletics metres Men's 5000 2 Silver Bekele, Kenenisa 2004 Athens Athletics metres Men's 10000 2 Silver Sihine, Sileshi 2004 Athens Athletics metres Dibaba, Women's 10000 2 Silver 2004 Athens Athletics Ejegayehu metres Women's 5000 3 Bronze Dibaba, Tirunesh 2004 Athens Athletics metres Women's 10000 3 Bronze Tulu, Derartu 2004 Athens Athletics metres Women's 10000 1 Gold Dibaba, Tirunesh 2008 Beijing Athletics metres 12 25/07/2012 Medallists Women's 5000 Gold Dibaba, Tirunes 2008 Beijing Athletics metres Men's 10000 1 Gold Bekele, Kenenisa 2008 Beijing Athletics metres 1 Gold Bekele, Kenenisa 2008 Beijing Athletics Men's 5000 metres Men's 10000 2 Silver Sihine, Sileshi 2008 Beijing Athletics metres Women's 5000 3 Bronze Defar, Meseret 2008 Beijing Athletics metres 3 Bronze Kebede, Tsegay 2008 Beijing Athletics Men's marathon 13 25/07/2012 14 25/07/2012 15 25/07/2012 .