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 have qualified for the 2012 African Cup of Nations and the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The current national team captain is Adane Girma and their top scorer is Saladin Seid. 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.
Below 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 make a comment below.
Popular sports of Ethiopia
Track and Field, Football (Soccer), basketball
Traditional and Regional Sports of Ethiopia
stick fighting
Ethiopia Sporting Success
won the 1962 African Cup of nations (football)
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
Ethiopia at the Summer Olympics
Ethiopia at the Winter Olympics
Past sporting events hosted in Ethiopia
Upcoming sporting events in Ethiopia
Annual sporting events held in Ethiopia
Sporting Facilities in Ethiopia