World-Renowned Athletes Pledge Unreserved Support for GERD

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ENA,Marach 11/2020 World-famous Ethiopian athletes have voiced their full support for the realization of the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

The celebrated athletes Derartu Tulu and Haile Gebresilasie told ENA that the construction of the dam should be enhanced for the welfare of both Ethiopia and the downstream countries.

The first African woman Olympic gold medalist in 10,000 meters race, Derartu Tulu said this  is the right time to bring all Ethiopians on board to complete the dam.

She stated that it is now the responsibility of every citizen to work together for the finalization of the project which has been built by the public.

As patriot athletes "we have been actively participating in GERD by helping raise fund and discharging our citizenship responsibility," Derartu said.

Being “ambassadors of the country, we (athletes) will discharge our responsibility whenever it is necessary in order to ensure respect of our sovereignty,” she stressed.  

The Ethiopian distance runner legend noted that there is no word to motivate Ethiopians, except saying come together to realize the dam.

The other prominent athlete, Haile Gebresilassie said supporting realization of the dam, which is a symbol of national pride, is not something you volunteer but mandatory to this generation.

Everybody has a responsibility to contribute their share in whatever way possible, and that would enable the nation to finalize the dam on schedule, he added.

“All Ethiopians and Ethiopian origin living abroad should need to be joining hand in hand to finalize the national flagship project to utilize it as a tool of alleviating poverty.”

The retired athlete further noted that the media should also play their roles in promoting the participation of the public in raising fund for the GERD.

“We need to stand together and exert maximum effort by avoiding differences so that we can reach our long cherished goal,” he stated.  

Haile Gebrselasie, who is one of the greatest runners in history, further said Ethiopia is building the dam to extricate the poor from poverty without causing significant harm to the downstream countries.

Riparian countries should therefore cooperate with such initiatives so that they can also enjoy  the benefits from the dam, the athlete explained.

Ethiopians at home and abroad have purchased Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) bond worth over 397 million Birr over the last six months.

Like Derartu Tulu and Haile Gebresilasie many Ethiopians and Ethiopian Diaspora are pledging unreserved support for the finalization of GERD.

Ethiopian News Agency
2023