UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency’s Post

You can achieve whatever you put your mind to.

"Watch where we're going." Whether it's Cindy Ngamba's fierce stare, Mohammad Rashnonezhad's quiet conviction, Eyeru Gebru's intense concentration, or Perina Lokure Nakang's utter dedication - one thing the athletes (boxer, judoka, cyclist, athlete) in this video have in common is a steely determination to achieve, stun and surpass. These are four out of the 37 athletes forming the contingent of the 2024 Olympics' most remarkable team - the IOC Refugee Olympic Team. This team is reflective of the hopes and dreams of millions of refugees worldwide, but more importantly, a platform for the displaced to assert their sense of self, to exercise their choice and make the most out of their reality. Their participation is a statement to all those watching - that it matters little where they came from. What is of value is where they are going. It is an appeal to allow them to shape their own identity, defining themselves by their athletic prowess and their unrelenting fighting spirit. The team has its beginnings when the IOC asked host countries to identify refugees with sporting talent within their country. Thus, for the very first time, the 2016 Rio Olympics had 10 refugee athletes participate. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics saw 29 participants officially represent the IOC Refugee Olympics Team, and Paris 2024 breaks records with 37 participants competing in 12 sports. These athletes were selected from the Refugee Athletes Scholarship Program, funded by the Olympic Solidarity Initiative and overseen by the Olympic Refugee Foundation. The National Olympic Committees (NOCs) host the athletes. Other wonderful firsts at this edition of the Olympics: -> Boxer Cindy Ngamba won the first-ever medal for the team (will battle Atheyna Bylon for the gold tomorrow🥇) -> The Refugee Olympic Team now has its own emblem and pin design that unifies the athletes✨ -> The IOC has launched the '1 in 100 million' campaign to celebrate the team. Check out the video: https://lnkd.in/dDRZ3dR4 Their site also has a campaign playbook that breaks down the branding process! You can show support by following their handle @refugeeolympicteam on Instagram 🙌 I don't know about you, but I'm definitely watching.

The best of what sport can be.

This is history in the making. Cindy Ngamba just became the first athlete from the Refugee Olympic team to take a medal. Having had the honor of working with women who are refugees or internally displaced at a few different points in my career, it is amazing and not at all surprising to see this. Refugee women are strong, resilient, compassionate, and resourceful. With the growing amount of displacement due to climate change disaster, conflict, famine, political upheaval and the rise of authoritarian governments we need to be constantly thinking through how to ensure that women refugees are included as co-designers and co-decision-makers in global development programs in each country. They know how to surmount difficult obstacles to achieve their objectives. https://lnkd.in/eguAXMem

The Refugee Olympic Team, which debuted at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, gives refugee athletes who face war or political persecution a place to compete. This year, 36 athletes will join the Refugee Olympic team, participating in 14 sports, and representing 11 countries from around the world. More than two-fifths (42%) of refugee Olympic athletes were born in Iran followed by Syria (14%), Afghanistan (11%), Cuba (6%), Eritrea (6%), Ethiopia (6%), Sudan (6%) and four other countries (i.e., Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Venezuela). Read about the Refugee Olympic Team here: bit.ly/3LvH7SS

Spotlight on the Olympic Refugee Team: Inspiring Stories Ahead of Paris 2024 🇫🇷 Following Trivandi’s recent “Beat the Torch” challenge, where we raised funds for the Olympic Refuge Foundation, we are excitedly following this year’s Refugee Olympic Team. With just four days to go until Paris 2024, let's take a moment to share some interesting facts you might not know: 📈 Record Participation: 36 athletes, the largest number since the team's inception in 2016. 🏋♀️ Diverse Representation: These athletes come from 11 different countries and will compete in 12 sports. 🌍 Global Symbolism: The team represents over 100 million displaced people worldwide. ❤️ Unique Emblem: For the first time, the Refugee Olympic Team will compete under its own emblem, designed to symbolise unity and the shared experiences of displaced individuals. 🤝 Support and Funding: Many athletes on the team have been supported through the Refugee Athletes Scholarship Programme, managed by the Olympic Refuge Foundation. These athletes, amongst all others competing, represent the true spirit of the Olympics and we can’t wait to watch them compete. Which past or present Olympic athlete has inspired you the most? 📸 Photo Credit: Refugee Olympic Team #Paris2024 #OlympicRefugeeTeam #Inspiration #Unity #OlympicSpirit

🚣♂️🌍 Beyond Borders: The Olympic Debate Over What Defines a Refugee Athlete 🌍🚣♂️ The recent stance of the Cuban Olympic Committee demanding the exclusion of canoeist Fernando Dayán Jorge from the Paris 2024 Olympic Refugee Team has sparked widespread discussions. As someone personally connected to the Cuban diaspora, I find this situation particularly poignant. Jorge’s public criticisms of the Cuban government highlight the intersection of sports, personal freedom, and international diplomacy. The inclusion of athletes like Jorge on the Refugee Olympic Team—originally formed to highlight the plight of refugees—raises important questions about the criteria for being considered a refugee in sports. It challenges us to think beyond traditional scenarios of war, considering those escaping other forms of strife. This situation invites us to rethink how sports can serve as a sanctuary for those seeking new beginnings and underscores the need for a broader definition of “refugee” that encompasses various forms of displacement and insecurity. 🤔 How can the Olympic spirit of unity be better leveraged to support all athletes, particularly those who find themselves at the crossroads of personal upheaval and international attention? Let’s discuss how we can foster a more inclusive environment in global sports. https://lnkd.in/eECB_U6Q #Olympics2024, #RefugeeOlympicTeam, #SportsDiplomacy, #HumanRightsInSports, #CubanDiaspora, #OlympicControversy, #GlobalSports, #AthleteRights, #SportsPolitics, #InclusiveSports

At Rio 2016, the very first Refugee Olympic Team competed for more than just medals, helping inspire hope for millions of others displaced by violence, conflict, and war. As the Worldwide Management Consulting Partner of the International Olympic Committee – IOC, we’re using our global scale, deep insights, and understanding of innovation to track the impact of firsts that have happened at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Explore #TheFirstEffect to see how firsts move the world forward. https://deloi.tt/4bzgDul

https://lnkd.in/dkUvnjVm Was the Ghanaian Paralympic team seeking Olympic glory or simply a chance for a better life? This tragedy serves as a poignant reminder of the urgent need to address migration issues comprehensively. We must honor those who lost their lives and support those striving for a brighter future by creating a more equitable and compassionate migration system. 🌍💔 #MigrationCrisis #HumanRights #GhanaianParalympians Read more in my latest article.

As we enter South Asian Heritage Month in a week, with a euros football glow around the whole country, I ask the question, where are the players with South Asian heritage in the England squad or in premier league first teams? South Asian heritage meaning coming from a region which includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Maldives and Nepal. It’s a question close to my heart because 9.3% of the population in England and Wales is Asian, so in a squad size of 26 we should have at least one South Asian player, shouldn’t we? There are 5000 professional football players in the UK, with less than 1% with South Asian Heritage. In 2022, the Premier League launched a South Asian Action Plan to improve these statistics, but this needs to be pushed from the grassroots up. As a football parent, I’m pitch side every weekend and I see talent, I see committed parents, but I also see inequity, I see kids being overlooked. However, I see glimmers of hope that the tide may now be turning. Some football clubs, such as Brentford FC are now hosting events, such as the recent South Asian emerging talent festival. Some positive action at last to address the under representation. So maybe we are moving in the right direction and perhaps in another 4 years we’ll see a South Asian footballer in the squad. #football #southasian #premierleague #england #positiveaction