THE REFUGEE PARALYMPIC TEAM AT THE TOKYO 2020 PARALYMPIC GAMES 

 

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has confirmed the six athletes who will represent the Refugee Paralympic Team (RPT) at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. The athletes, one woman and five men will compete in Para Athletics, Para Swimming, Para Canoe and Taekwondo.

The team represents the more than 82 million people around the world who have been forced to flee war, persecution, and human rights abuses, 12 million of whom live with a disability. The Chef de Mission for the team is Ileana Rodriguez, a refugee from Cuba who competed in the London 2012 Paralympic Games in swimming for the USA.

Parafait Hakizimana

Parfait Hakizimana
Burundi-born taekwondo fighter set to become first Para athlete to go directly from a refugee camp to compete at the Paralympic Games. (Read More)

Anas Al Khalifa

Anas Al Khalifa
Syria-born Para canoeist hopes being part of the Refugee Paralympic Team can help him share message of hope with other displaced people. (Read More)

Alia Issa

Alia Issa
First ever woman refugee Para athlete overcomes bullying and discrimination as dream of competing at first Paralympics comes true. (Read More)

Ibrahim Al Hussein

 Ibrahim Al Hussein
A selfless act to rescue his friend in Syria set off a series of random acts of kindness from strangers that helped make Al Hussein’s journey towards Tokyo possible. (Read More)

Shahrad Nasajpour

Shahrad Nasajpour
Born in Iran, the discuss-thrower based in the USA helped spur on the Refugee Paralympic Team and will participate in his second Paralympics. (Read More)

Abbas Karimi mugshot 1.jpg

Abbas Karimi
Born without arms, Karimi fled his home in Afghanistan to escape the conflict, explore a new future and pursue his dream of becoming a Paralympic swimmer. (Read More)