Newsletter

The moments of crisis did not stop them, learn the story of the Olympic Refugee Team

The group is made up of athletes of different nationalities.

The Olympic Refugee Team (EOR) is one of the most special delegations of the Olympic Games, because it is made up of athletes from various countries. This is the second edition in which they appear and are characterized by being a group that shows a crisis that affects the world: the migratory.

This team was created with the aim of giving a space to those athletes who were forced to leave their home countries due to wars, ideological persecution, generalized violence or other circumstances that require international protection.

The refugee delegation on this occasion consisted of 29 selected competitors
(10 women and 19 men) by the Executive Committee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from an initial group of 55 who received the Scholarship for Refugee Athletes.

The President of the IOC, Thomas Bach, explained during the virtual ceremony to present the Games from Lausanne (Switzerland) that the reasons why this particular delegation was created still exist: “Right now, we have many forcibly displaced people in the world.”

Also read: Mental health: how important it is to talk about it and leave stigma behind

Its origin

The Olympic Refugee Team was formed until the 21st century. Before that, athletes were allowed to compete with other delegations, but if they won a medal, it would go to their country of origin.

It was not until March 2016 and in the face of the global migration crisis, that the IOC created the Olympic Refugee Team, with the purpose of grouping athletes who fled their nations and reside in another country.

The organization collaborated in conjunction with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), to check the immigration status of athletes and their personal background. Meanwhile, they worked with the Olympic Committees of each country for the tests that would lead the hopefuls to the Olympic Games.

This way, made their debut at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Although on that occasion only 10 athletes participated.

Tokyo 2020

The team is classified in 10 sports; Among them, judo and athletics, in which the majority of his delegation is concentrated. Most athletes come from countries in conflict situations such as Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq or Cameroon. The members of the refugee team are:

  • Taekwondo:
    Abdullah Sediqi (Afghanistan), Dina Pouryounes Langeroudi (Iran) and Kimia Alizadeh Zenozi (Iran).
  • Cycling: Ahmad Baddredin Wais (Syria) and Masomah Ali Zada ​​(Afghanistan).
  • Judo: Ahmad Alikaj (Syria), Javad Majoub (Iran), Muna Dahouk (Syria), Nigara Shaheen (Afghanistan), Popole Misenga (Democratic Republic of the Congo) and Sanda Aldass (Syria).
  • Greco-Roman fight: Aker Al Obaidi (Irak).
  • Swimming: Alaa Maso (Siria) y Yusra Mardini (Siria).
  • Athletics:
    Anjelina Nadai Lohalith (South Sudan), Jamal Abdelmaji Eisa Mohammed (Sudan), James Nyang Chiengjiek (South Sudan), Dorian Keletela (Congo), Paulo Amotun Lokoro (South Sudan), Rose Nathike Lokonyen (South Sudan) and Tachlowini Gabriyesos (Eritrea).
  • Weightlifting:
    Aram Mahmoud (Siria).
  • Badminton: Cyrille Fagat Tchatchet II (Camerún).
  • Boxing: Eldric Sella Rodríguez (Venezuela) and Wessam Salamana (Syria).
  • Threw: Hamoon Derafshipour (Iran) and Wael Sheub (Syria).
  • Karate: Luna
    Solomon (Eritrea).
  • Canoeing: Saeid Fazloula (Iran)

THE DATA: Athletes carry the Olympic flag. This is what they will wear in all official team representations, including possible medal ceremonies. In addition, the anthem of any country will not sound in case these athletes climb to the top of the podium, but instead the Olympic anthem will play it.

.

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Trending