Refugee Olympic Team
For the first time in its history the International Olympic Committee has allowed a team of refugees to compete at the Games. All of the team's members were forced to leave their home countries. Now they've come together to compete under the Olympic flag instead.
Making it to the Olympics is something eighteen year old swimmer Yusra has always dreamed of. But just last year, she was swimming for her life. She and her sister were forced to leave their home in Syria because of the war there. They were trying to get to Greece in a rubber dinghy with eighteen other refugees, when their boat broke down and began filling with water. Most of the people on board couldn't swim so she and her sister jumped in to help push it to shore.
YUSRA, OLYMPIC SWIMMER: It was really hard. Me and my sister were in the water. My sister told me if something happens, don't help anyone. Then she got in the water and helped them. And it was like quite hard just to think you're a swimmer and at the end you're going to end up dying in the water.
Three hours later, they made it to safety, and eventually to Germany as refugees. Refugees are people who have left their home country because their lives are threatened by war, bad treatment or violence - often because of their race, gender or beliefs. Around the world, more than 60 million people are in this situation. And some of them, like Yusra, are elite athletes who have trained all their lives to compete at the highest level, only to have that chance taken away.
When Yusra left Syria, she thought her Olympic dream was over. Because in the past, refugees haven't been able to compete. But then, a door opened.
THOMAS BACH, IOC PRESIDENT: Today I am happy to announce the creation of the Olympic Team of refugee Olympic athletes.
Now, a team of ten, including swimmers, runners, and judokas from Syria, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Congo have been given the chance to compete at the Games under the Olympic flag.
YUSRA, OLYMPIC SWIMMER: In the water there is no difference if you are a refugee, or Syrian, or German. In the water it is just you and your competing mate.
They've also been given their own coaches, officials, uniforms, and a chef, all paid for by the IOC. And in the past few months they've been training hard. The IOC says it wants the team to inspire and give hope to other refugees, and draw attention to the issues millions of others around the world are facing. And these guys say they're up to the task, whether they win gold or not.
YUSRA, OLYMPIC SWIMMER: We heard a lot of stories from refugees. And all of them saying No I cant, no I will not and after they saw what we did I tell them Yeah Im a refugee too and they're like "Oh my god I should've been like you, I should have tried" And I tell them "You can! You just want to try from all your heart!"
- Matthew Holbrook | Reporter
- Rio 2016: Olympic Refugee Team overcomes hardship to make Games debut: ABC News | weblink
- Refugee Olympic Team Biographies: Olympic.org | pdf
- Refugee Olympic Team to shine spotlight on worldwide refugee crisis: Olympic.org | weblink
- Refugee Olympic Team makes history at Rio Games: UNHCR | weblink
- Syrian refugee who swam from Turkey to Greece sets sights on Rio Olympics: ABC News | weblink
- Syrian Arab Republic | Map
- Refugee Olympic Team | Worksheet
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