Greatest Distance Runner in History to Run in Edmonton 2001.

Business Editors

EDMONTON, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 11, 2001

The greatest middle distance runner in history, Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia, has confirmed he will be in Edmonton to defend his 10,000m world title.

The holder of both the world 5,000m and 10,000m records Gebrselassie has won four consecutive IAAF world championship gold medals and two Olympic gold medals at 10,000m - an unprecedented competitive record. At the world indoor championships in Maebashi, Japan two years ago he also won both the 1,500m and 3,000m with his devastating finishing kick, proving his versatility knows no bounds.

"No question how important Edmonton is. I myself, if I can win a fifth time I will be happy," Gebrselassie said Monday from his home in Addis Ababa," I plan to race more 10,000m's but this could be my last championship 10,000m."

Just 28 years old, Gebrselassie has not raced internationally since winning his second Olympic gold medal in Sydney where he was nursing an achilles tendon injury but says he is not bothered by the lack of competition. In years past he has proven his competitiveness twice opening his season with world records. In Hengelo, Netherlends on May 31st, 1997 he ran two miles in 8:01.08 (then a world best performance) and a year later at the same venue he beat the world 10,000m record with an astounding time of 26:22.75, a time that still stands today.

"It doesn't upset me a lot (to run in Edmonton) without international competition. You know, I have the opportunity to compete in the semi-final before the final," he declares nonchalantly, "It doesn't matter. Anyway, we shall see. My training now is very good. At the moment I am doing a lot of good work for Edmonton."

The subject of a 1999 feature length documentary film entitled "Endurance" Gebrselassie has made it clear that he would like to follow in the footsteps of his countrymen Abebe Bikila and Mamo Wolde and win an Olympic marathon. Until then, however, there is unfinished business to attend to in Edmonton.

The 8th IAAF World Championships in Athletics is expected to bring more than 3,000 athletes, coaches and officials from more than 200 countries, to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada to compete in 24 men's and 22 women's athletic events, August 3rd through 12th, 2001. More than 2,500 media are also expected to attend and provide coverage around the world. The IAAF World Championships in Athletics is the third-largest sporting event in the world, based on a world-wide television audience of four billion viewers anticipated to tune in during the 10 days of competition. The IAAF World Championships in Athletics is third in scope only to the Summer Olympics and World Cup Soccer.

Edmonton 2001 World Championships in Athletics is pleased to acknowledge the following partners: IAAF Partners TDK, adidas, Coca-Cola, EPSON, SEIKO, Eurovision and TBS. Government Partners: Government of Canada, Government of Alberta and the City of Edmonton; Sport Partners: Athletics Canada and Athletics Alberta; National Partners: TELUS, Royal Bank Financial Group, Labatt, EPCOR, IKON Office Solutions, Sony of Canada Ltd. and the General Motors Dealers of Edmonton. For further information, visit the Edmonton 2001 Web site at www.2001.edmonton.com.