CHICAGO — Bank of America today announced the elite field of male and female athletes scheduled to compete for the 2008 Bank of America Chicago Marathon(R) championship titles on Sunday, Oct. 12. Topping the list is newly crowned Olympic women’s marathon gold medalist Constantina Tomescu-Dita of Romania and up-and-comer William Kipsang of Kenya who currently holds the 11th all-time fastest marathon finish time, fifth-fastest this year (2:05:49).
At age 38, Tomescu-Dita became the oldest woman to ever win the gold medal in the 26.2-mile Olympic contest. Familiar to Chicagoans, Tomescu-Dita won the 2004 Chicago Marathon and her 2008 appearance will mark her fifth on the notoriously fast and flat course. In her last two Chicago appearances, Tomescu-Dita finished second to American Deena Kastor (2005) and led the 2006 women’s field at course record pace (sub-2:17) through mile 16 before being surpassed by eventual champion Berhane Adere (ETH) in the 22nd mile.
“I am delighted to be returning to Chicago. I have always felt great running there and have been fortunate to have some of the best races of my life there,” said Tomescu-Dita from Romania shortly following her Olympic victory in Beijing. “It will also be nice to return because I understand Chicago is bidding for the 2016 Olympic Games and I think it would be a wonderful place to have them.”
Tomescu-Dita will be challenged by 2007 Chicago Marathon runner-up and fellow Romanian Adriana Pirtea, 28, and up-and-comer Bezunesh Bekele, 25, of Ethiopia. Chicago fans will recognize Pirtea who came into the final stretch last year with a sizeable lead. As she pumped her arm in victory a few hundred meters from the finish, returning 2006 Chicago champ Adere streaked up behind her unnoticed until she was uncatchable in the final strides to repeat her championship finish. Bekele will follow-up her impressive debut at the Dubai Marathon entering the Chicago race with a 2:23:09 personal record, second in the field only to Tomescu-Dita.
On the men’s side, William Kipsang, 31, is the man to beat arriving off a 2:05:49 first-place finish at the Rotterdam Marathon in April. Kenya’s Emmanuel Mutai, 30, will put some pressure on Kipsang considering his fourth-place finish at the Flora London Marathon in April where he set a personal record (2:06:15). Also expected to be in the mix is fellow countryman Richard Limo who finished second to Mutai at last year’s Amsterdam Marathon, crossing the line only 16 seconds behind the champion.
“The Bank of America Chicago Marathon has a reputation for producing historic efforts and breathtaking finishes and the quality of this year’s elite field is an extension of that tradition,” said Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski of Chicago Event Management, now in his 19th year overseeing the event. “This year’s men’s field features four men who have run under 2:07:00, one who has run under 2:06:00 and champions from some of the great marathons of the world which should produce another great day of marathon running on Oct. 12.”
Representing the United States in Chicago are Kate O’Neill and Colleen De Reuck. O’Neill, 28, will return to the site of her 2007 debut at the marathon distance, looking to best her time of 2:36:15 on the Chicago course. Masters runner Colleen De Reuck, 44, will return for her sixth Chicago Marathon.
The elite racers will start the 26.2-mile Bank of America Chicago Marathon course at 7:55 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 12, five minutes in advance of the massive field of 45,000 registered runners. Following is the current list of elite athletes who will compete for the $125,000 first-place prize distributed to the top male and female overall winners. 2008 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Elite Field Name Citizenship Personal Record Women Bezunesh Bekele ETH 2:23:09 Alevtina Biktimirova RUS 2:25:12 Colleen De Reuck USA 2:26:35 Zoila Gomez USA 2:33:53 Lidiya Grigoryeva RUS 2:25:10 Kate O’Neill USA 2:36:15 Adriana Pirtea ROU 2:28:52 Kiyoko Shimahara JPN 2:26:14 Worknesh Tola ETH 2:25:37 Constantina Tomescu-Dita ROU 2:21:30 Men Moses Arusei KEN 2:06:50 Christopher Cheboiboch KEN 2:08:17 Timothy Cherigat KEN 2:09:34 James Getanda KEN 2:11:50 Salim Kipsang KEN 2:07:29 William Kipsang KEN 2:05:49 Richard Limo KEN 2:06:45 Emmanuel Mutai KEN 2:06:15
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Bank of America Chicago Marathon
The 2008 Bank of America Chicago Marathon will start and finish in Chicago’s Grant Park beginning with the wheelchair race at 7:50 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 12. Registration opened to the public on Feb. 1 and closed on April 23 when the participant capacity of 45,000 was reached. In advance of the race, a two-day Health & Fitness Expo will be held at McCormick Place on Friday, Oct. 10 and Saturday, Oct. 11. In its 31st year, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon annually attracts 45,000 runners, 1.5 million spectators and 125,000 Expo visitors and generates more than $10 million for charities. The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is one of the five races that comprise the World Marathon Majors. More information on the race and how to get involved is available at http://www.chicagomarathon.com .
Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world’s largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk-management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving more than 59 million consumer and small business relationships with more than 6,100 retail banking offices, more than 18,500 ATMs and award-winning online banking with more than 25 million active users. Bank of America offers industry leading support to more than 4 million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients in more than 150 countries and has relationships with 99 percent of the U.S. Fortune 500 companies and 83 percent of the Fortune Global 500. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. http://www.bankofamerica.com
A builder with compassion as wide as his building skills is going to put the two to good use in Ethiopia.
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND — Marty van der Burg is leading a group of 24 volunteers on a Habitat for Humanity project that will provide homes for people living in poverty.
The four-week trip leaving on September 24 will also be used to highlight social issues facing Ethiopia.
The location was chosen because it was the source of some of the world’s best coffee, tended to by impoverished farmers who don’t receive a fair price from overseas buyers.
Mr van der Burg will meet with the Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative to learn more about fair trade coffee and the plight of coffee growers.
“You can choose to make a difference by being aware of something simple like fair trade coffee.”
He says there is a 2000 percent markup on coffee from its source to the coffee shop.
“The poor and oppressed need a voice, we need to challenge corporates who keep the wages low,” he says.
“It’s about how we can improve the lot of the coffee grower.”
To extend their humanitarian effort, they will be taking 300kg of clothes to a local orphanage.
Mr van der Burg is also helping to turn the life around of a teenager in trouble with the law by encouraging him to join the team.
He had to gain permission from the courts for the teenager to be bailed to his supervision and the project will form part of his community service sentence.
One of the team members, Flat Bush resident Scott Pepler, a coffee development manager and a world coffee judge.
The joint focus on coffee as a social issue will complement Mr Pepler’s extensive knowledge and interest in coffee.
He says he can’t wait to go, and rather than having any nerves or hesitation about doing strenuous work in a Third World country, he says he is excited about making the contribution.
Mr van der Burg has raised $79,000 towards the group’s costs.
“I wanted to create an opportunity for everyday New Zealanders to be able to give,” he says.
He says there is a great cross-section of ages and backgrounds of the volunteers on the team.
He is already planning two more trips to Ethopia next year.
“I have such strong energy in my heart to help,” he says.
It is a feeling shared by Jack Johnston, 72, who will be returning to Africa after providing labour for last year’s project.
“He was our hardest worker,” says Mr van der Burg.
PARIS — The UN cultural agency UNESCO on Monday awarded NGOs from South Africa and Ethiopia the Confucius Prize for Literacy for their outstanding efforts to eliminate illiteracy and promote public health awareness in their countries.
South Africa’s Operation Upgrade was honored for its innovative approach to integrating knowledge about HIV and AIDS into literacy programs, and Adult and Non-Formal Education Association of Ethiopia was awarded for its community-based approach to teaching business, conflict resolution and disease prevention and for its writing workshops for the newly literate, according to a statement by UNESCO.
“Literacy is a powerful yet too often overlooked remedy to health threats, with the potential to promote better nutrition, disease prevention and treatment,” said Director-General of UNESCO Koichiro Matsuura at the awarding ceremony on the International Literacy Day.
Shi Shuyun, Chinese ambassador to the Paris-based UNESCO, said the Confucius Prize for Literacy, established three years ago, demonstrates China’s support for education across the world.
China hopes to arouse world’s attention to education and highlight the key role of education in personal life and in society through the prize named after Confucius, known for his idea that anyone should receive education regardless of his social differences, Shi said.
Apart from the Confucius Prize for Literacy, the UNESCO literacy prizes also include International Reading Association Literacy Prize, which went to Brazil’s Curitiba City Council, and King Sejong Literacy Prize, which was attributed to Zambia’s People’s Action Forum.
About 774 million adults are still illiterate, accounting for one fifths of the world’s total population. Campaign against illiteracy still remains a grave task with 75 million children still receiving inadequate education, according to UNESCO.
What a season! In Ethiopia and in the United States, we hear similar laments: inflation brings miseries; rich/poor gap widens; sick people lack care; environments worsen; human rights burn; energy grows scarce; media cave in; schools are inadequate. And we face baneful consequences of invading another country in an ill-conceived quest to stamp out perceived security threats. It’s enough to make you feel gloomy.
So whence the mood of buoyancy, fresh determination, breakthrough ideas, and enlarged visions in the U.S.? It’s through a leader who works to bring folks together to address crippling problems in a forthright, competent, and consensual manner. Not a power-mongering demagogue, Barack Obama projected a vision when he told his followers: “This election victory is not about me. It’s about you!” It is about seeing how much good can come from harnessing the free proactive power of millions. In the words of Common Cause president Bob Edgar, “We are the leaders we have been waiting for.”
Barack Obama’s power stems also from identifying with figures who inspired us in dire times–Franklin Roosevelt, for calming a torrent of paralyzing fear; John F. Kennedy, for fostering idealism while facing down threats; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., for incandescent dreams; even Ronald Reagan who, despite regressive economic policies, raised a dispirited public’s morale.
Ethiopians, too, recall many who brought inspiration in times of peril: Emperor Yohannes who fell fighting against invaders; Emperor Haile Selassie who stood tall at the League of Nations; and, among many who opposed Italian Fascism, heroes like Lorenzo Taezaz, Abuna Petros, and Mulugeta Buli. They remember Kifle Wodajo, who promoted democracy under a regime unschooled in its ways. They admire innovators, such as General Siye Abraha, who renounced ethnic chauvinism for multiethnic inclusiveness; Elias Wondimu, who built a publishing program of high standards and an institute for nonviolent solutions; Judge Bertukan Midekesa, who survived a horrendous prison with great forward-looking spirit; and Pastor Daniel Gebreselassie, who helped many thousands of prisoners and resolve Ethiopia’s political paralysis.
Barack Obama draws on his appeal to an empowered citizenry and his stock of inspiring figures to energize an audacious search for fresh solutions to current dilemmas. I’ll name but three.
Transforming energy use
In stunning contrast to a regime that denies global warming, reduces environmental protections, dismisses science, and favors expanded use of oil, Barack Obama vigorously promotes conservation, respect for science, and search for alternative energy sources. His bold new energy plans include ways to slash oil consumption, cut greenhouse gas emissions 80%, create five million green energy jobs, and expand renewable energy sources.
Transforming foreign policy
Invading Iraq, Americans now believe, was a disaster on every count: politics; ethics; economics; security. That invasion stemmed from a mindset that reduces international issues to a divide between good guys and evil guys, eager to use force against the latter. Already when campaigning in January 2000, Bush proclaimed: “When I was coming up, it was us vs. them, and it was clear who them was. Today, we are not so sure who the they are, but we know they’re there.” Obama’s early rejection of the Iraqi war option as leading inexorably to “an occupation of undetermined length, with undetermined costs, and undetermined consequences” reflects a mindset committed to analyzing what makes the U.S. truly secure. This includes promoting an international context in which we say, “to those yearning faces beyond our shores: ‘You matter to us. Your future is our future.’”
Reconfiguring political energy
The Bush administration has shown its blatant disregard of American citizens in so many ways. These include ignoring danger signals and providing pitiful relief for the Katrina disaster; squandering an opportunity to mobilize Americans for public service after 9/11 by asking Americans only to go shopping; and undermining democratic institutions by abrogating provisions of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. In sharp contrast, Barack Obama’s fidelity to the Constitution was shown abundantly in his years of teaching Constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School, and his commitment to reversing the politicization of the Bush Administration’s Department of Justice. Obama plans to expand opportunities for Americans to engage in national and community service and the Peace Corps, and to engage retiring Americans in service on a large scale. He has a stunning track record of listening to the voice of citizens, and understands that in democracy the press needs to censure government, rather than the government to censoring the press.
The Appeal to Ethiopians
Ethiopian Americans tell me they find the Obama candidacy worth supporting for one or more of three different reasons. Like other Americans, Ethiopian Americans find hope in a wide range of his policy proposals, like the sample listed above (and others; see barackobama.com). They also see how the directions Obama promises for the U.S. may offer a model for Ethiopia. And many hope that an Obama administration might reorient American policy toward Ethiopia and the Horn in more constructive directions.
Forward-looking Ethiopians, including many in the Ethiopian Government, see promise in adapting advanced green energy technologies and thereby enabling Ethiopia to leap-frog the stage of industrialization that the West and East Asian countries have undergone. For the U.S. and other donor nations, this implies a shift from stopgap relief mentality and old-scale types of capital investment to technologies that harness solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, compact water turbines, and better waste management.
Forward-looking Ethiopians, including many in the Ethiopian Government, see the pitfalls of the Ethiopian invasion of Somalia and even more so the consequences of the scorched earth policy in the Ogaden. They prefer the sort of policy that Germame Neway pursued, working to integrate Ogaden inhabitants into the Ethiopian nation by offering them abundant life-enhancing services.
For the U.S., an Obama approach would avoid the shortcomings of basing African engagements so much on a trigger-happy counter-terrorist disposition, a change that former Ambassador David Shinn and former Chargé d’Affaires Vicki Huddleston have advocated.
Finally, Obama’s commitment to mobilizing citizens for public service and respecting human rights has conspicuous relevance to changing Ethiopia. It would imply support for empowering “the bottom of the pyramid.”
Regarding U.S. policies, it might expectably lead to more effective support for Ethiopians who want to promote a free press, including local radio that gives voice to people, and capacity-building for the advancement of nonviolent solutions and protection of human rights.”
Ethiopians can experience the same turn-around, in ye-bet agar as well as in ye-wutch agar, that Obama’s campaign for change promises. Awo Inchilallen!
For now, what better way than to join forces with Ethiopians for Obama? Or even join with neighbors from the larger Horn of Africa to set up a new support group: why not SEEDS [Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia]-Americans for Obama?”
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – About the Author
Donald N. Levine served as the Peter B. Ritzma Professor of Sociology at the University of Chicago. His research and teaching interests focus on classical social theory, modernization theory, Ethiopian studies, conflict theory and aikido, and philosophies of liberal education. He is a colleague of Senator Barack Obama from their teaching days at the University of Chicago.
The Ethiopian Leather, Shoes and Leather Products Manufacturing Association was reportedly preparing to hold the second all African Leather Fair January 20-22, 2009 in Addis Ababa City.
Association secretary general, Abdissa Adugna said that the event is to take place at Addis Ababa millennium hall.
Some 3,000 people are expected to visit the trade fair in which some 250 local and international participants from 30 different countries take part.
The Fair will bring together tanners, footwear and other leather goods manufacturers, equipment and technology suppliers, chemical and inputs suppliers, manpower training institutions, trade promotion organizations from all over the world.
The first all African leather trade fair ‘2008) was a success, with 63 overseas companies and 107 local companies participating. It was visited by 1525 international and 2400 local visitors.
In a related story, a source disclosed that Ethiopian Leather, Textile & Garment Exhibition & Symposium (ELTGES) is scheduled to be held in Addis Ababa Ethiopia from 12th November 2008 to 16th November 2008.
Designed to promote the sector, it will be organized in collaboration with the Ethiopian government. Producers and fashion companies such as Nike and Adidas have already confirmed their attendance.
“We have assembled a team of experts in the Textile and Garment field to help Ethiopian Manufacturers to move to the goal of excellence in Productivity, Design, Quality and Customer Service,” the source quoted organizers.
“We also act for International Companies wanting to find a new source of manufacturing that can compete with the other more established sources in Asia.”
Tilburg, The Netherlands – On a new course in Tilburg in the south of The Netherlands Ethiopia scored a double victory in respectively in the Brabants Dagblad Ten Miles and the Tilburg Ladies Run 10km. Both events are IAAF Silver Label Road Races.
In the men’s Ten Miles, Abiyote Guta won in 46:02 out-sprinting Kenyan Wilson Kipsang by two seconds. The women’s 10km was won by Mestawat Tufa in 31:48, who was eight seconds ahead of compatriot Bezunesh Bekele.
MEN
Directly after the start of the Ten Miles, which along with the women’s race was being run on a new course, a leading group of five was formed. These five passed the three kilometres point in a fast 8:30 and the 5km marker in 14:18.
Halfway the leading group was down to three with Kipsang, Guta and a second Ethiopian Yigeze Zembaba. These passed 10 kilometres in a still pretty fast 28:35. Shortly after that point Zembaba fell back and it became a two man affair.
In the final stages of the race, watched by thousands of spectators who lined both sides of the course, Guta left his opponent and won in 46:02 to 46:04. Zembaba came home third in 46:31.
WOMEN
The women’s race was held in drizzling rain. From the start a large leading group mostly composed of African women was formed. This group passed half way in 16:06. Shortly afterwards it became clear that only two women would fight for the victory: Mestawat Tufa and the tiny Bezunesh Bekele. Behind these two, Hungarian Aniko Kalovics held third place.
The two Ethiopian women fought a fierce battle but finally Tufa broke away and finished in 31:48, eight seconds ahead of her compatriot. Kalovics came home third in 32:25
Wim van Hemert for the IAAF
RESULTS
Men – 10 Miles
1.Abiyote Guta Eth 46:02
2.Wilson Kipsang Ken 46:04
3. Yigeze Zembaba Eth 46:31
4. Wesley Langat Ken 47:07
5. Shadrack Kiplagat Ken 47:48
6. Martin Lauret Ned 47:55
7. David Rutoh Ken 48:24
8. Willem van Hoof Bel 48:33
9. Guy Fays Bel 48:40 (35+)
10. Vital Gahunga Bur 48:41
11. Hugo van den Broek Ned 48:42
12. Greg van Hest Ned 49:07
13.Sammy Korir Ken 49:41
14. Stefan van de Broek Bel 49:48
15. Colin Bekers Ned 49:52
16.Philip Wyle Gbr 49:53
Women – 10km
1. Mestawat Tufa Eth 31:48
2. Bezunesh Tufa Eth 31:56
3. Aniko Kolavics Hun 32:25
4. Workitu Ayanu Eth 32:41
5. Pauline Wangui Ken 32:43
6. Christine Chepkonga Ken 32:54
7. Turkan Erismis Tur 34:18
8. Emily Chemutai Ken 34:25
9. Ilse Pol Ned 34:28
10. Karolina Jarzisnka Pol 34:35
11. Jolanda Verstraten Ned 35:04
12. Alemitu Bekele Ken 35:17
13. Saskia van Vugt Ned 35:32
14. Miriam van Reijen Ned 35:33
15. Nadja Wijenberg Ned 36:15 (40+)
