Electric Cars to Lead out Elite Races as Great Ethiopian Run Goes Green

ADDIS ABABA – The elite races at the 2021 TotalEnergies Great Ethiopian Run International 10km on Sunday will be led out by electric cars as part of its ‘go green campaign’.

The use of electric vehicles, supplied by Green Technology Ethiopia, is part of the ‘Go Green’ initiative undertaken by Great Ethiopian Run at its races throughout 2022 following its commitment to raise awareness about environmental issues, the organiser said on Tuesday.

‘Poo to the Loo”

“Poo to the Loo” is another such campaign being promoted by race sponsor UNICEF. The campaign aims to call for an end for open defecation.

According to Unicef, approximately 22 million people practice open defecation or equivalent to roughly 1 in 5 of the estimated 110 million population, practice open defecation in Ethiopia.

Poor hygiene practices, particularly open defecation, have “devastating consequences on public health especially for children”, said Gianfranco Rotigliano, UNICEF Representative in Ethiopia.

Through this campaign, UNICEF said it is calling on everyone to become agents of change to end open defecation so that children can live healthier lives, noting that Diarrhoea is a major cause of deaths among children under five in Ethiopia.

Great Ethiopian Run has also partnered with UNICEF and other race sponsors including TotalEnergies, Sofi Malt, Hyatt Regency and Arki Water to arrange a street cleaning program.

The program will take place on the eve of the race in three locations along the course route, said the UN agency.

The cleaning will be done by environmental partner PETCO with assistance from representatives from each of the sponsors.

 

Featured Image Caption: Partial view of the 2019 edition of the Great Ethiopian Run in Addis Ababa [Photo GER/File]