EAF, Ethiopian Athletes & Coaches to contribute 20 million birr for Grand Millennium Renaissance Dam construction

Addis Ababa- The Ethiopian Athletics Federation (EAF) and 80 of the country’s top athletes and coaches have announced that they will contribute 20 million birr (US$1.186 million) for the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project during a press conference held at the Addis Ababa Stadium today, reported Ethiopian Radio & Television (ERTA).

The report indicates that the contribution includes 5 million birr (US$296,537) in cash and 15 million birr (US$889,610) in pledges to buy bonds.

Some of the athletes who were present during the stadium press conference include Haile Gebrselassie, Kenenisa Bekele, Meseret Defar, Tirunesh Dibaba, Sileshi Sihine and Gebre-Egziabher Gebremariam.

Partial list of athletes who pledged today:

1. Haile Gebrselassie: 2,000,000 Birr

(500,000 in cash plus 1,500,000 in bond purchase)

2. Kenenisa Bekele: 1,500,000 Birr

(500,000 in cash plus 1,000,000 in bond purchase)

3. Sileshi Sihine & Tirunesh Dibaba: 1,500,000 Birr

(500,000 in cash plus 1,000,000 in bond purchase)

4. Meseret Defar: 1,000,000 Birr

(250,000 in cash plus    750,000 in bond purchase)

5. Gebregziabher Gebremariam & Werknesh Kidane: 850,000 Birr

(350,000 Birr in cash plus 500,000 in bond purchase)

6. Tariku Bekele: 400,000 Birr

(100,000 in cash plus 300,000 in bond purchase)

7. Tsegaye Kebede: 400,000 Birr

(100,000 in cash plus 300,000 in bond purchase)

The Ethiopian Athletics Federation (EAF) also announced that it will make a 3,000,000 birr contribution, with 1,000,000 in cash and 2,000,000 in pledge to buy bonds.

Watch the video (Amharic language)

Ethiopian Sport – Ethiopian Athletic Federation & Athlete in Support of Grand Millennium Dam Project