The news that three-time Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele will take to the streets of Dubai this week has resulted in a spike in the number of last-minute entries looking to compete in the 2017 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon on Friday (January 20). The Ethiopian legend will lead the Marathon field in the Middle East’s biggest mass participation event in what will be only his second appearance on the Dubai roads — a surface he will share with more than 30,000 “running mates”. “It’s not often that athletes get to share the stage with one of the greatest sportsmen of all time,” said Event Director Peter Connerton. Heading back up Al Sufouh, the runners will pass the entrance to Al Qasr before turning right at the Madinat Junction and running in the direction of the finish line. Athletes still looking to compete in the Marathon, the 10km Road Race or the 4km Fun Run can still register online through the official event website www.dubaimarathon.org.

Source: Ethiopian News January 14, 2017 13:00 UTC