The Ethiopian Olympic Committee marked Olympic Day with a whole week of celebrations and sporting events ©EOC

The Ethiopian Olympic Committee (EOC) marked Olympic Day with a whole week of celebrations and sporting events in the country's capital Addis Ababa.

The festivities, under the title of "Olympisim for Human Dignity, Unity and Peace", took place on a huge scale with the EOC saying around two million people took part.

A range of amateur sports fixtures took place including in football, boxing and athletics, while there were panel discussions on the Olympic Movement and sport in Ethiopia.

EOC President Dr. Ashebir Woldegiorgis closed the week of celebrations with a speech ©EOC
EOC President Dr. Ashebir Woldegiorgis closed the week of celebrations with a speech ©EOC

The Mayor of Addis Ababa, Tekele Uma, attended along with Governmental Ministers, diplomats and former Ethiopian athletes.

EOC President Dr. Ashebir Woldegiorgis promised, during his speech to close the week of celebrations, that Ethiopia would continue to play its part in fighting racism and prejudice via the Olympic Movement.

He said: "We preach fraternity, co-existence, love and solidarity for all fellow Ethiopians during this remarkable Olympic Day and for all in our Olympic Movement.

"We, as the Olympic family, have fought the hatred and racism aggressively which hovers in the nation's atmosphere."