Aspiring Ethiopian athletes are inspired by their rich and successful senior atheltes who have made a mark on and off the field. On the concrete tiers of Meskel Square, a vast rallying point in Addis Ababa, armies of aspiring athletes scamper around despite biting, pre-dawn cold as they wait for their trainers to arrive.


Across the plaza, rigorous practice routines are well underway under a giant screen where track greats Kenenisa Bekele's and Tirunesh Dibaba's famous double wins at the Beijing Olympics were relayed live to thousands of ecstatic fans.

"The earlier you wake up the better," said 17-year-old Tirusew Wolde, before turning on a short dash down an asphalt pavement.

For Tirusew, images of a grinning Dibaba wrapped in an Ethiopian flag after her show-stealing victory last year offer motivation to brave the early-morning chill.

But he conceded that a major incentive for most young runners is the desire to rack up riches as they've seen Ethiopian track stars do in recent years.

"Of course I want to," said Dissassa Jifar, when asked whether or not he was spurred on by the possibility of boosting his

"Look at them. Not only have they succeeded on the track but also off it. They are leading very comfortable lives," he said in between shivers.

In this ancient capital, the past 10 years has seen a boom during which shimmering office blocks and high-rise hotels have sprung up thanks to a strong economy, which emerged after decades of dictatorial mismanagement.