BBC One will be broadcasting live from the 2005 Great Edinburgh Cross Country Run tomorrow, in which six Ethiopians are expected to take part. The race will be shown as part of the BBC’s Grandstand programme from 13:05 onwards.

Among the female athletes participating in the 6.3km contest are Ejegayehu Dibaba, the Olympic 10,000 metres silver medalist, and her younger sister Tirunesh Dibaba, the reigning 5000 metres World Champion and Olympic bronze medalist, both of whom contributed to Ethiopia’s success in the Chiba Ekiden in late November last year.

In the men’s competition, participants include Gebre-Egziabher Gebremariam – who won the Cross Internacional Valle de Llodio in Spain less than a week after winning a stage for the victorious squad at the Chiba Ekiden – and Dejene Berhanu, who lowered the Ethiopian national record in the half marathon to 59:37 at last September’s BUPA Great North Run.

Sadly, Kenesisa Bekele will not be taking part, following the tragic death of his fiancee, athlete Alem Teshale. The Olympic and 10,000 metres World Champion previously won this event twice, and was among the favourites for this year’s competition.

Matthew Turnbull, athletics director of the Edinburgh meeting, said:

"Everyone involved in organizing the event understands the trauma he must be going through. We offer our deepest condolences in this very sad moment of grief. We said from the very beginning that the decision about Kenesisa's participation was one we would leave personally to the athlete and totally respect his decision."

Alem’s funeral, which took place on 5th January, was conducted at St. Holy Savior Church Cemetery in Assela town, and was attended by Deputy Minister of Youth Sports and Culture, Melaku Petros, senior government officials of the Oromia Regional State, representatives from the Athletics Federation and the Olympic Committee, and prominent Ethiopian athletes. The couple were due to marry in May.

ENDS