By Yelibenwork Ayele

Abebe Bekila's family told The Reporter that they would put on show a photographic exhibition of the athlete's life and his exploits in athletics. On the exhibition, which will remain open for three weeks at the National Museum from Monday onwards, a photo showing Abebe's sole will be put on display only for a day.

The exhibition is organized to commemorate the 40th year of Abebe's marathon victory in Rome and to encourage the athletes who will be participating in the coming Beijing Olympic and to show the pictures of Abebe Bekila to the athletes who are coming to Ethiopia for the 16th Africa athletics event, said Yetnayet Abebe, a family representative.

The 126 pictures that will be on display at the exhibition include photos from Abebe's first victory in the armed forces team during the reign of Haile-Selasie to his last photo that adorns his tomb. Photographing and video-taping are prohibited for all visitors of the exhibition.

Abebe's statue, which had been erected on his tomb, was found fallen down last year. So far it is no one knows who did it. Plans to put back the statue has not yet commenced due to some argument between the athlete’s family and Abiselom Yehdego as to who owns the right to re-erect the statue.