The Refugee Team for the Paris Olympics has been announced, comprising 36 athletes from 11 countries who will compete in 12 sports. These athletes were selected from over 70 scholarships, as revealed by International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach during the team announcement.
Unlike in previous Olympics where refugees competed under the Olympic flag, this year they will have their own emblem. The emblem features a heart at its center, surrounded by arrows symbolizing the journey of lost refugees finding their way back. The team will be known as EOR, derived from the French name Équipe Olympique des Réfugiés.
One of the team members, Masomah Ali Zada of Afghanistan, expressed the significance of having their own emblem, stating that it fosters a sense of belonging and empowers them to represent the over 100 million people who share similar experiences. Zada, who competed in women’s cycling at the Tokyo Games, eagerly anticipates proudly wearing the emblem.
The team comprises 23 men and 13 women who will compete in a variety of sports including athletics, badminton, boxing, breaking, canoeing, cycling, judo, shooting, swimming, taekwondo, weightlifting, and wrestling at the upcoming Games starting on July 24.
Notable members of the team include boxer Cindy Ngamba, Ethiopian runner Farida Abaroge, Iranian taekwondo athlete Kasra Mehdipournejad, and Venezuelan shooter Edilio Francisco Centeno Nieves. Mehdipournejad expressed his excitement at seeing his Olympic dream come to fruition.
However, the team faced a setback as a third runner was suspended for a positive doping test earlier this week. The Refugee Team was initially established by the IOC for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro to provide a platform for athletes who have been displaced from their home countries to continue competing.
In Rio, the team consisted of 10 athletes, with Syrian swimmer Yusra Mardini making history as the first to compete. The team has grown since then, with 29 athletes across 12 sports participating in the Tokyo Games three years ago.
For more updates on the Paris Olympics, visit the AP Olympics page.
