Olympic Medalists Rally Behind IOCRefugee Teamfor Paris 2024

As the 2024 Paris Olympics approach, a group of renowned Olympic medalists, including Usain Bolt, Novak Djokovic, Edwin Moses, and Nawal El Moutawakel, have come together to express their unwavering support for the International Olympic Committee (IOC)Refugee Team. This remarkable team, comprising 36 athletes from 11 countries, represents the hopes and dreams of over 100 million forcibly displaced individuals worldwide.

Why this matters: The IOC Refugee Team's participation in the Olympics highlights the global refugee crisis and brings attention to the struggles faced by displaced individuals. It also demonstrates the power of sports in promoting unity and providing opportunities for marginalized communities.

The IOC Refugee Team, officially known as the Équipe Olympique des Réfugiés (EOR), was announced during a live-streamed ceremony from Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland. Theathletes, selected from over 70 scholarships, will compete in 12 sports, including athletics, badminton, boxing, breaking, canoeing, cycling, judo, shooting, swimming, taekwondo, weightlifting, and wrestling.

The team will compete under its own emblem, a unifying symbol featuring a heart at its center, surrounded by arrows symbolizing how displaced individuals can find their way back through sport. Masomah Ali Zada, the team's chef de mission from Afghanistan, emphasized the significance of this emblem, stating, "Having our own emblem creates a sense of belonging, and empowers us to also stand for the population of more than 100 million people who share this same experience."

The Olympic medalists supporting the IOC Refugee Team are eager to see these exceptional athletes compete in Paris. IOC President Thomas Bach welcomed the team with open arms, declaring, "You are an enrichment to our Olympic Community and to our societies. With your participation in the Olympic Games, you will demonstrate the human potential of resilience and excellence."

The team consists of 23 men and 13 women, with notable athletes such as boxer Cindy Ngamba, Ethiopian runner Farida Abaroge, Iranianrefugee taekwondoathlete Kasra Mehdipournejad, and shooter Edilio Francisco Centeno Nieves from Venezuela. Mehdipournejad expressed his excitement, saying,"My Olympic dream is coming true."

The IOC created the Refugee Team for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro to allow athletes to continue competing despite being forced to leave their home countries. The team has grown significantly since its inception, from 10 athletes in Rio to 29 in Tokyo, and now 36 for the Paris Olympics.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, emphasized the importance of the Refugee Olympic Team, stating,"The Refugee Olympic Team should remind us of the resilience, courage, and hopes of all those uprooted by war and persecution. These athletes represent what human beings can do even in the face of extreme adversity. "As the world eagerly awaits the start of the 2024 Paris Olympics on July 24, the IOC Refugee Team stands as a beacon of hope and determination, showcasing the unifying power of sport in the face of adversity.

Key Takeaways

• 36 athletes from 11 countries form the IOC Refugee Team for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
• The team represents over 100 million forcibly displaced individuals worldwide.
• Athletes will compete in 12 sports, including athletics, badminton, and boxing.
• The team has its own emblem, featuring a heart and arrows, symbolizing unity and resilience.
• Olympic medalists, including Usain Bolt and Novak Djokovic, support the IOC Refugee Team.