In the hope of shining a light on the harrowing migrant crisis, the International Olympic Committee has named a team of refugees which will compete as its own entity at Rio this summer.
10 athletes were selected from a total of 43 refugees who were initially identified as candidates for the new team. The IOC stated in an offical press release that nomination criteria included elite-level sporting ability, official refugee status as verified by the UN, along with further details regarding the athletes' personal situations and backgrounds.
Included in the 10-person outfit was 17-year-old Syrian swimmer Yusra Mardini, whose incredibly moving story saw her swim for her life across the Aegean Sea to escape her war-torn native land just last year.
ABC in the States did the following brief but compelling video feature on Mardini back in March, when the teenager remained simply an Olympic hopeful:
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IOC President Thomas Bach said today:
These refugees have no home, no team, no flag, no national anthem. We will offer them a home in the Olympic Village together with all the athletes of the word. The Olympic anthem will be played in their honor and the Olympic flag will lead them into the Olympic Stadium.
This will be a symbol of hope for all the refugees in our world, and will make the world better aware of the magnitude of this crisis.
The refugee team will be given uniforms and assigned coaches and team officials, with the IOC stating its intention to continue to support the athletes, even after the games this summer in Rio De Janeiro.
The full team is as follows:
• Rami Anis (M): Country of origin – Syria; host NOC – Belgium; sport – swimming
• Yiech Pur Biel (M): Country of origin – South Sudan; host NOC – Kenya; sport – athletics, 800m
• James Nyang Chiengjiek (M): Country of origin – South Sudan; host NOC – Kenya; sport – athletics, 400m
• Yonas Kinde (M): Country of origin – Ethiopia; host NOC – Luxembourg; sport – athletics, marathon
• Anjelina Nada Lohalith (F): Country of origin – South Sudan; host NOC – Kenya; sport – athletics, 1500m
• Rose Nathike Lokonyen (F): Country of origin – South Sudan; host NOC – Kenya; sport – athletics, 800m
• Paulo Amotun Lokoro (M): Country of origin – South Sudan; host NOC – Kenya; sport – athletics, 1500m
• Yolande Bukasa Mabika (F): Country of origin – Democratic Republic of the Congo; host NOC – Brazil; sport – judo, -70kg
• Yusra Mardini (F): Country of origin – Syria; host NOC – Germany; sport – swimming
• Popole Misenga (M): Country of origin – Democratic Republic of the Congo; host NOC – Brazil; sport – judo, -90kg
H/T: ABC
