Feyisa Lilesa, Ethiopian long distance runner who took the country’s famed anti-government protest gesture to the Olympics has confirmed that he is now ready to return home.
Lilesa crossed his hand above his head after crossing the line in his race at Rio Olympics two years ago. He went into self-imposed exile after the games.
Whiles other athletes returned to Addis Ababa, he went to the United States and has since been residing in Arizona with his family – who joined him later. He based his refusal to return on the fact that his life would be in danger.
But he says current reforms indicate that his fear does not exist anymore. “I was waiting for a change to happen in the country. And there are changes after the new prime minister came to power.
“There is a chance I will be running again for my country,” he added. He hasn’t represented Ethiopia since Rio despite running a number of Marathons across the world.
Earlier this week, local media outlets reported that the country’s athletics and Olympic outfits had reached out to him to return home. The Ethiopian Olympic Committee (EOC) and Ethiopian Athletics Federation (EAF) in a joint statement said Lilesa will be accorded a ‘hero’s welcome.’
August 2016: Lilesa takes Oromo protest symbol to the Olympics
Feyisa Lilesa, left Addis Ababa with the country’s Olympic team for Rio 2016 games in Brazil but little did anyone suspect he will make name more for a protest sign than his action on the tracks.
The long distance athlete became famous after he made an anti-government gesture at the end of his track event. He crossed his arms above his head as he finished the event as a protest against the Ethiopian government’s crackdown on political dissent – particularly on persons in his home region of Oromia.
He won the silver medal in the men’s marathon after finishing the 42 kilometer race. He later claimed that his life was in danger. He has since leaving Rio been residing in the United States. He has in interviews rejected claims that he had sought asylum.
He has often traveled to participate in marathons across the world, he failed to make the podium in London but won gold in Bogota. His wife and two kids were subsequently allowed to join him in the U.S. (africanews).
Ethiopia’s Olympic protester Feyisa Lilesa to return from exile
France up, Germany down and Ethiopia in comfort zone
World Cup champion France reached to its unprecedented top of the FIFA rankings for the first time in 16 years. Former four time champion that dominated the top spot for the past four years Germany plunged down to shocking 15th place. Tunisia and Senegal tops African ranking while Ethiopia enjoying the same spot to last month 155th out of 206 nations.
France beat Croatia 4-2 last month for its second World Cup title, and jumped six places to reclaim the No. 1 spot it last held in May 2002. Belgium, which lost to France in the semifinals, moved up one place to second on the list, published Thursday.
Brazil, beaten by Belgium in the quarterfinals, fell to third while Croatia climbed 16 places to fourth to equal its best ranking from five years ago. World Cup quarterfinalist Uruguay jumped nine spots to fifth and semifinalist England moved to sixth from 12th.Host Russia kicked off the tournament as the lowest-ranked of the 32 teams. But an unexpected run to the quarterfinals, where it lost to Croatia on penalties, pushed it up 21 places to 49th.Previous champion Germany’s surprise elimination from the group stage dropped it from first to 15th.
Tunisia and Senegal lead Africa sharing 24th spot where as DR Congo, Ghana, Morocco and Cameron claiming the top five. With golden boy Mohammed Salah absent for that shocking incident Egypt’s World Cup final campaign turned a nightmare plunging down the Pharaohs twenty level down to 65th in the world 8th in Africa.
Youth and Sport Academy director blames government
The Ethiopian Youth and Sport Academy that is established to produce elite sport’s personalities at all levels is reduced to a government run boarding school busy complaining about a budget shortage, procurement procedures and accommodation problems. “It is because of government procurement regulations that we cannot supply necessary items for the athletes,” The Academy Director Anbesaw Enyew told reporters after visiting the campus.
With number of young athletes boarded at the academy appearing on live transmission complaining about the shortage and low quality food, absence of training assortments and other facilities. “How come one is expected to burst in to world stage like Haile G/Selassie and Derartu Tulu consuming rice day in and day out,” a young athlete from the Amhara region aspiring to emulate world renowned distance athletes remarked.
“It is not only about the food we also have no training equipment despite the daily trainings. They promised on our arrival they will provide a minimum of three training clothing to each athlete. But here we are in the second year in the Academy with just a single item.” A seventeen year-old athlete told the reporters. “See my training shoes are torn apart everywhere and my jersey is knotted at the shoulder. Most of my mates are in the same situation,” she added.
One of the instructors stated that it is shame when the Academy is meant to produce elite athletes is busily engaged in such silly matters the likes of food and training assortments. “The athletes need proper handling in every way but it is not true here,” he suggested.
However, rather than directing and finding solutions, Anbesaw blamed the government procurement practice for being tight, the expensiveness of importing training materials and how inadequate the 66 Birr daily budget per athlete is. If he is there to complain rather than come up with a solution what is he there to direct?
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