Paula Radcliffe will take on a new role later this month when she acts as race starter for the Great Ethiopian Run on November 22.

The marathon world record holder will share the task with Haile Gebrselassie and Derartu Tulu as a record entry field of 33,000 takes to the streets of Addis Ababa for the 10kilometre race.

Tulu decisively defeated Radcliffe in the recent New York Marathon where the Briton finished fourth.

It will be the 35-year-old's first visit to Ethiopia and, as well as supporting the race, Radcliffe will have an opportunity to renew friendships with many Ethiopian athletes.

They include Tulu and Gete Wami against whom she has competed during her 17-year international career.

According to Gebrselassie, the announcement of her presence at Ethiopia's annual running festival has already sent ripples of excitement through the athletics community in the country.

The greatest distance runner in history has been instrumental in the race's success and development since its inception in 2001 and he said: "Paula's coming here is fantastic news.

"She is a great athlete and a wonderful person. We want to give her a great experience of the race and of the running scene in Addis Ababa."