Luanda – A total of 22 countries will participate in the 54th edition of the year-end athletics race dubbed “São Silvestre”, which will be held on December 31, in the Angolan capital (Luanda), the director of the competition, José Saraiva, informed on Thursday.

 
By announcing the closing of the registration for foreign athletes, the official explained that the organising commission is committed to the creation of conditions to lodge the delegations and make arrangements on the route, in co-ordination with the provincial government.

 
The competition shall have 57 foreign athletes from Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Brazil, Botswana, Cape Verde, Lesotho, Malawi, Morocco, Namibia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Portugal, DRC, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Sudan, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Zambia,
Belgium and USA.

 
The 2008 edition, won by the Ethiopian Cashum Jeilar and the Kenyan Grace Momay, was attended by six countries.

 
Concerning the route, now certified with 10 kilometres, the runners will start off at the Mutamba square (down-town area of Luanda) and will end at Coqueiros stadium.