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| Haile Gebrselassie to run for parliament in Ethiopia | Haile Gebrselassie to run for parliament in Ethiopia |
| (2 months later) | |
| Haile Gebrselassie, the Ethiopian distance runner considered one of the greatest of all time, has announced that he plans to stand for parliament with the aim of winning a seat in the country's 2015 election. | Haile Gebrselassie, the Ethiopian distance runner considered one of the greatest of all time, has announced that he plans to stand for parliament with the aim of winning a seat in the country's 2015 election. |
| The 40-year-old confirmed growing rumours that he was quitting athletics for politics on his Twitter account. | The 40-year-old confirmed growing rumours that he was quitting athletics for politics on his Twitter account. |
| "A lot of messages in the news about me going into politics. Yes, I want to be in the parliament in 2015 to help my country to move forward," he tweeted. | "A lot of messages in the news about me going into politics. Yes, I want to be in the parliament in 2015 to help my country to move forward," he tweeted. |
| Gebrselassie is regarded as a national icon by many Ethiopians. He has set 27 world records, won two Olympic 10,000m golds in Atlanta and Sydney and four world championships at the same distance. | Gebrselassie is regarded as a national icon by many Ethiopians. He has set 27 world records, won two Olympic 10,000m golds in Atlanta and Sydney and four world championships at the same distance. |
| Asked about his political ambitions by the Guardian in 2002, he said: "Eradicate poverty. This is all that matters in my country. When I am out training I think about this a lot; when I am running it is going over in my mind. As a country we cannot move forward until we eradicate poverty." | Asked about his political ambitions by the Guardian in 2002, he said: "Eradicate poverty. This is all that matters in my country. When I am out training I think about this a lot; when I am running it is going over in my mind. As a country we cannot move forward until we eradicate poverty." |
| He has yet to state which party he will run for in the general election. | He has yet to state which party he will run for in the general election. |
| Ethiopia's parliament is dominated by the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). There is only one opposition MP. The government has been accused by Human Rights Watch of waging a coordinated assault on political opponents, rights campaigners and journalists. | Ethiopia's parliament is dominated by the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). There is only one opposition MP. The government has been accused by Human Rights Watch of waging a coordinated assault on political opponents, rights campaigners and journalists. |
| Gebrselassie announced his retirement in 2010 after suffering a knee injury in the New York City marathon. But he soon reversed his decision and went on to compete in further races. | Gebrselassie announced his retirement in 2010 after suffering a knee injury in the New York City marathon. But he soon reversed his decision and went on to compete in further races. |
| He is known for his distinctive running style, with the right arm swinging back and forth while the left arm remains static and cocked, which he says he developed while running to school carrying his books. | He is known for his distinctive running style, with the right arm swinging back and forth while the left arm remains static and cocked, which he says he developed while running to school carrying his books. |
| In April this year, he won his third consecutive Vienna half marathon and also took part in the Great Manchester Run in May, finishing in 3rd place. | In April this year, he won his third consecutive Vienna half marathon and also took part in the Great Manchester Run in May, finishing in 3rd place. |
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