Addis Ababa, President Sahle-Work Zewde welcomed the national athletics delegation who returned victorious from the 18th World Athletics Championship at Palace on Thursday.
Various awards were presented to the members of the delegation in the presence of ministers, senior government officials and invited guests.
During her speech the President thanked the athletes “you have demonstrated the face of the victorious Ethiopia, the Ethiopia we know, the Ethiopia we want”.
The President said that the athletes’ victory “brings a smile to those who are worried, who are sad, who have a hard life, who wonder where we are as a country”.
She also reminded “Despite the attempt to divide, you have shown that there is no problem at the people level …, the victory is an indicator that there is light in the darkness”. President Sahle-Work appreciated Commander Derartu Tulu “not only for her professionalism but also for her Ethiopianness”.