BOSTON, Massachusetts - Haile Gebrselassie, the two-time Olympic gold medalist at 10,000 meters who is widely considered the greatest long distance runner of all time, will compete at the adidas Boston Indoor Games on Jan. 31, organizers announced today.

It will be the first time in eight years the legendary Ethiopian has competed in the United States, and only the third time in his 13-year career.

"We are honored that the best track athlete in history will be on the starting line for the adidas Boston Indoor Games," said meet director Mark Wetmore, president of Global Athletics & Marketing, Inc. "We expect sports fans from around the country will be making their travel arrangements for the rare opportunity to watch this superstar perform in person."

In addition to winning at 10,000m in both the 1996 and 2000 Olympics, the 30-year-old Gebrselassie holds the World Record at both 10,000 (26:22.75) and 5000 (12:39.36) on the track and 10K (27:02) on the roads, and is a nine-time World Champion.

His only other races in the United States have been the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, where he won gold, and the 1992 World Cross Country Championships in Boston, where he was second in the Junior division as a 17-year-old.

The ninth-annual adidas Boston Indoor Games will be held at the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center at Roxbury Community College, 1350 Tremont St., Boston, from 5:30 to 8 p.m., and will be broadcast live on ESPN2 from 6-7 p.m.
The meet will again be the first stop on USA Track & Field's Indoor Golden Spike Tour. Tickets are available on-line at Boston Indoor Games or by calling 617-536-7030.