The IWF Refugee Team is now ready to work! 

After the deadline for applications (March 25) and the recent approval by the Executive Board, the IWF has the pleasure to announce that its Refugee Team will be constituted of four women and three men, as well as a designated coach. The female representatives of the team are: Parisa Jahanfekrian, originally from Iran, but now residing in Germany, Clementine Meukeugni Noumbissi (Cameroon/France), Aline de Souza (Brazil/USA), and Monique Lima de Araujo (Brazil/USA).

Among men, Addriel Garcia (Cuba/Italy), Fawaz Mohammed Saleh Hussein (Yemen/Saudi Arabia), and Reza Rouhi (Iran/Great Britain) will complete the Refugee Team.

The coach of this group of athletes will be Patric Bettembourg, presently the Head Coach of the youth and junior Swedish team.

After this official nomination, the Refugee Team will enter into a preparation and training plan in order to attend the major IWF events.

Eleiko, one of the IWF licenced providers of barbells and disks, will be an important partner in this programme, as the Swedish company will provide the accommodation and full board costs for all participants in a training camp (up to two weeks) to be held at Eleiko’s headquarters.

In terms of National Federations, the host of the upcoming IWF World Championships – Saudi Arabia – already confirmed that it will also support this programme. 

As a reminder, and to be part of this team, athletes had to be recognised as refugees or beneficiaries of international protection, in accordance with the criteria established by the UNHCR, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. After this approval by the IWF, the Refugee Team will compete under the acronym WRT, will use the official IWF flag, and is subject to the IWF Anti-Doping Rules. Athletes and coach will have to follow and complete the WADA ADEL online course and other educational programmes deemed necessary for their preparation.