Eritreans in the UK gave an extraordinary support to Eritrea’s greatest ever athlete and Olympian Zersenay Tadesse and Simret at the Great Edinburgh International Cross Country. Famous for its Castle, Palace, Royal Mile and outstanding medieval and Georgian architecture, Edinburgh received Eritrean supporters from different parts of the UK, who had traveled for over ten hours by coach, cars and vans to celebrate their athletes.

The late arrival of Eritrean supporters decorated with flags to the race, changed the surroundings of the event to Eritrea’s national affair. Wherever you looked, the Eritrean flag was there. While running, Zersenay and Simret were encountered with Cheering, flag waving and clapping all around the pitch.

BBC live coverage of the event was also overshadowed by Eritrean flags and the tremendous support the Eritrean athletes were getting. Epherem, a young Eritrean from London, drew the commentators’ attention by running side by side with the leading athletes waving the Eritrean flag for more than three laps. The presence of Eritrean supporters was also a great boost for the race. The Scottish Athletics Federation officials, who were impressed by the Eritreans full of character display of support, invited Eritreans to the biggest international athletic event, which will be held two years later.

Jubilant scenes followed Zersenay’s third finish with flags waving, dancing, clapping, cheering and hugging each other. The thousands of people, who came to watch the race, appeared to be stunned by the Eritrean supporters’ reaction. Abel Goytom, an Eritrean supporter from London told Meadna News, “many people were asking about our reaction, but I am sure they would understand if they knew the sacrifices the Eritrean people had to make to get the country and this flag.”

Zersenay and Simret then went on to join their people at the reception, which was organized by Meriem Yassin and Eritrean community in Scotland. Luul Fishaye, head of public affairs from the Eritrean Embassy in the UK was also present in the celebration. A lack of sleep for over 24 hours did not deter anyone from having another extraordinary evening of celebration. Zersenay and Simret danced with their people to Eritrean tunes the whole evening. Zersenay gave a speech thanking everyone for the overwhelming support and true to his humble Eritreaness, he told the crowd “I came to run but you did most of the running with me,” he also said: “this is only the start, we have more to go.”

Those who traveled from London expressed their appreciation and admiration for the excellent organization of the trip by Yonathan Haile with the help of other young Eritreans. The whole event was recorded by the very dedicated Eritrean professional photographers, Freweyni Solomon, Thedros Ghebreamlak and Camera man Micheal Ghebreamlak.