Sport in Ethiopia
Ethiopians participate in a lot of sports, but they are most well known for their runners. Ethiopia has been referred to as the “running mecca” mainly due to the fact that they have achieved great success in middle and long distance running.
The most popular sports in Ethiopia are athletics and football. The Ethiopian national football team called the “Walyia Antelopes” won the 1962 African Cup of nations and in 2013 Ethiopia qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 31 years. Ethiopia is also one of the first countries that has an established basketball team of all the Sub-Saharan African countries (1949).
When it comes to the Olympics, Ethiopia first participated in 1956 and have been sending athletes to the Summer Olympics ever since with a handful of exceptions (1976, 1984 and 1988). Ethiopia is also one of a few African countries that has participated in the Winter Olympic Games which they first sent athletes to in 2006. All in all, they have taken home a total of 45 Olympic medals as of the 2012 Olympic Games, all of which from the Summer Olympics. 21 gold, 7 silver and 17 bronze medals all coming from Athletics, most of which from running events.
Ethiopian runner Yomif Kejelcha in the lead packBelow are details of sports, sporting events and sports people related to Ethiopia. Is there something missing? If you know of something that should be listed here, please let us know.
Popular sports of Ethiopia
- Track and Field, Football (Soccer), basketball
Traditional and Regional Sports of Ethiopia
- Stick fighting
Ethiopia Sporting Success
- Ethiopia won the 1962 African Cup of nations (football)
- In 2013 Ethiopia qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 31 years
Great athletes from Ethiopia
- Haile Gebrselassie- long-distance track and road running athlete
- Abebe Bikila - double Olympic marathon champion
- Kenenisa Bekele - long-distance runner
Ethiopia Sports trivia
- Ethiopia is also one of the few nations who are still actively practicing their traditional sport of stick fighting.
Ethiopia at major events
Past sporting events hosted in Ethiopia
Upcoming sporting events in Ethiopia
Annual sporting events held in Ethiopia
Sporting Facilities in Ethiopia
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