Why is the Refugee Olympic team important?
With over 22 million Refugees and overall 82 million displaced people worldwide. The world now faces a huge number of Refugees crises since world war two. The Refugee Olympic team send a powerful message of solidarity and hope. The team showcase the incredible talent of already extraordinary people who have been through so much.
This is the second time the refugee team will be competing. This team has almost tripled in size since 2016 from 10 to 29 members and comprises athletes from 11 countries living and training in 13 host countries. The creation of the refugee team sent a message of hope and inclusion to millions of refugees around the world and inspiring the world with the strength of their human spirit.
Stories of Team Refugee Player
One is a marathon runner who as a child fled fighting by crossing a desert on foot. Another is a swimmer escaping conflict who helped steer a boatful of people to safety when its motor broke down by jumping into the water. The 29 members of the Refugee Olympic team have all endured hardship fleeing from their homeland amid conflict and persecution.
"Giving up isn't me"
Gabriyesos, 23, fled fighting in Eritrea at age 12, making an extraordinary trek northwards across Sudan and Egypt, including crossing part of a desert on foot, to reach Israel, where he sought refugee status. He now lives and trains in Tel Aviv, where he runs with a local club.
"Sport saved in my life"
From Turkey, Mardini boarded a small boat for the 10 kilometre trip to a Greek island that was supposed to take 45 minutes. When the motor on the rubber dinghy, meant for six or seven people but carrying 20, broke, she and her sister were among those who got into the water and swam to lighten to load and bring the boat safely to shore. Mardini eventually made her way on foot and by bus to Berlin, Germany. where she now lives. Like other athletes, she said sport gave her life meaning and direction during her adjustment. "I tell my story because I want people to understand that sport saved my life", she said.
"Sport give me hope"
"It is something that gives us that hope that the world recognizes us as human beings", said James Nyang Chiengjjek, who will compete in the 800 metres race. He was also part of the team in Rio. "Sport has opened the doors for us, and now we are seeing that so many refugees have talent."
As a boy, Ciengjjek fled his home in South Sudan to avoid being recruited as a child soldier and made his way without his parents to the sprawling Kakuma refugee settlement in northern Kenya, where he's running talent was first discovered.
Join us and support the refugee team at the Tokyo Olympics this year.
#Pray4Refugees #RefugeeOlympicTeam #StrongTogether
