UNHCR welcomes announcement of Refugee Olympic Team

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, warmly welcomes today’s announcement by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) of the refugees who will compete as a team in the upcoming 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. They include two Syrian swimmers, two judokas from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and six runners from Ethiopia and South Sudan. They all fled violence and persecution in their countries and sought refuge in places as wide-ranging as Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Kenya and Brazil. 

The initiative to send a refugee team to the Rio Games is unprecedented and sends a strong message of support and hope for refugees worldwide. It also comes at a time when more people than ever are being forced by conflict and persecution into fleeing their homes. The global population of refugees, internally displaced people and asylum seekers reached a record 59.5 million at the end of 2014 and has continued rising since.

“We are very inspired by the Refugee Olympic Athletes team – having had their sporting careers interrupted, these high-level refugee athletes will finally have the chance to pursue their dreams,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. “Their participation in the Olympics is a tribute to the courage and perseverance of all refugees in overcoming adversity and building a better future for themselves and their families. UNHCR stands with them and with all refugees.”

The participation of a refugee team in the Olympics represents a major milestone in UNHCR’s long-standing partnership with the IOC. This relationship, which dates back 20 years, has been instrumental in promoting the role of sports in the development and well-being of refugees, particularly children, all over the world. We have, through our joint projects, supported youth programmes and sporting activities in at least 20 countries, rehabilitated sporting fields in several refugee camps, and provided sports kits to refugee youth.  

The announcement of the refugee team coincides with the launch of UNHCR’s #WithRefugees Campaign which is an integral element of the UNHCR - IOC partnership for the 2016 Rio Games. The cornerstone of the #WithRefugees Campaign is a petition asking governments to ensure that every refugee child gets an education, that every refugee family has somewhere safe to live, and that every refugee can work or learn new skills to make a positive contribution to their community. The petition will be handed in before the UN High Level meeting on Refugees and Migrants, scheduled for the 19th September in New York.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The refugee team members as announced by the IOC are:

Rami Anis, Syria, swimming 

Yusra Mardini, Syria, swimming 

Paulo Amotun Lokoro, South Sudan, athletics 

Yonas Kinde, Ethiopia, athletics

Yiech Pur Biel, South Sudan, athletics 

James Nyang Chiengjiek, South Sudan, athletics

Anjelina Nadai Lohalith, South Sudan, athletics

Rose Nathike Lokonyen, South Sudan, athletics

Popole Misenga, Democratic Republic of the Congo, judo

Yolande Bukasa Mabika, Democratic Republic of the Congo, judo

 

For profiles of the athletes, click here

For photos, click here

For video, click here
 

For media queries, please contact 

In Geneva: Nora Sturm, sturmn@unhcr.org  

In Nairobi: Duke Mwancha, Mwancha@unhcr.org

In Brasilia: Luiz Godinho de Santos, godinho@unhcr.org