Wednesday, Aug 03, 2016

Abu Dhabi: The 10-strong Refugee Olympic Team (ROT) are being afforded the same respect as any leading athletes in Rio, despite being among the smallest teams taking part.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) formed the team - the first of its kind - to act as a symbol of hope for refugees worldwide and bring global attention to the magnitude of the refugee crisis.

Current statistics state that approximately 65.3 million people have been forcibly displaced from home, 21.3 million of these people are refugees and over half are under the age of 18.

As such, 43 promising candidates were initially identified by the IOC to join the ROT.

The selection of the final 10 athletes - four women and six men to compete in swimming, judo and athletics - was based on consultation with their host National Olympic Committees (NOCs), international federations, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the NOCs of their countries of origin. Nomination criteria included sporting level, official refugee status verified by the United Nations, and personal situation and background.

“These refugees have no home, no team, no flag, no national anthem,” IOC president, Thomas Bach, says. “We will offer them a home in the Olympic Village together with all the athletes of the world. The Olympic anthem will be played in their honour and the Olympic flag will lead them into the Olympic Stadium.

“These refugee athletes will show the world that despite the unimaginable tragedies that they have faced, anyone can contribute to society through their talent, skills and strength of the human spirit.”

Laureus Academy member and former long-distance running great, Tegla Loroupe, has been given the role of Chef de Mission by Bach and will lead the Refugee Olympic Team into their historic first Games.

The last of 24 children, the 43-year-old Kenyan grew up fighting for opportunities and therefore identifies closely with the refugees’ experiences. In her illustrious career, she became a three-time world half-marathon champion. She also earned renown for being the first African woman to win the New York Marathon, an event she won twice.

In 2003, Loroupe created an annual series of peace marathons sponsored by her own foundation and for many years she has been an ambassador for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, which supports sporting projects for young and disadvantaged people worldwide.

“When we think about heroes, we usually consider sporting champions, politicians and famous people, but real heroes can be found everywhere,” she says. “Our team of refugees has overcome a lot of adversity and their resilience is what makes them true heroes and they are a beacon of hope for many.”

Loroupe, who has had a passion for bringing an end to the refugee crisis since she finished competing, is immensely proud of her role at Rio 2016. “This is a dream come true for me,” she adds. “I want to advocate for peace so that we can create a world where people do not have to flee their homes in fear of being killed.”

The ROT will march with the Olympic flag immediately before host nation Brazil at the opening ceremony of the Games on Friday (3am Saturday in the UAE).

by Euan Reedie Chief Sports Writer, Abu Dhabi

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