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11 March 2007
Addis Ababa, March 11, 2007 (Addis Ababa) - The all Ethiopian games, the first of its kind to be organized in the country, opened here on Sunday at the Addis Ababa stadium in the presence of senior government officials.
The opening ceremony of the event was reported to be colorful.
Some 3,000 athletes drawn from all States in the country would compete in 17disciplines during the event that would be held up to April 8, 2007.
Renowned Ethiopian athletes Haile Gebreselassie, Meseret Defar, Tirunesh Dibaba and Sileshi Sehin lit the torch of the games.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister of Sports and Youth, Aster Mamo said the main objective of the all Ethiopian games is nurturing sense of brotherhood among nations and nationalities based on the Olympic principles and the constitution.
Creating sense of unity, respect and solidarity at the sport field are also the themes of the event, she said.
Moreover, the event would also serve as an opportunity to draw lessons to organize continental and international competitions in the future, she added.
The government has carried out remarkable activities in setting up the institution and designing policies aimed at involving the public, particularly the youth in sport activities.
Aster said the Ethiopian youth development package, which was designed based on the national youth policy, is being implemented in a bid to enbale the youth to take part in the democratization process in the country.
(ENA)