Every four years, the spectacle of supremely trained athletes performing in their respective events draws the attention and admiration of millions around the globe. And the Olympic Games succeeds in large part because, for two gloriously chaotic weeks of sport, much of the world sets aside conflicting viewpoints and focuses on the spirited competition.
The Games of the 31st Olympiad in Rio went a step further, as a 10-athlete team of refugees from four war-torn countries—South Sudan, Syria, the Deomocratic Republic of Congo, and Ethiopia—came together, competing in Brazil under the Olympic flag. The move was to shed more light on the nearly 60 million people across the globe forced to leave their home countries because of conflict and persecution, according to the UN Refugee Agency.
The final member of the refugee team to compete in Rio was Yonas Kinde, who ran the marathon Sunday morning. Kinde, 36, covered the first half of the race in 1:07:33, well under the pace of his 2:17:31 personal best. And while he slowed over the late miles to finish 90th in 2:24:08, Kinde’s accomplishment was celebrated far and wide.
“I’ve won a lot of races, but I don’t have a nationality to participate at the Olympic Games or European championships,” Kinde told Olympics.org DAA Industry Opt Out. “It’s very good news for refugee athletes that Olympic Solidarity have given us this chance to participate in Rio. I normally train every day, but when I heard the news, I started training twice a day.”
It was back in March that International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach announced the organization’s plans to select a 10 athlete team to compete in Rio under the label “Refugee Olympic Team,” with the country code ROT.
“By welcoming the team of refugee olympic athletes to the Olympic Games Rio 2016, we want to send a message of hope for all refugees in our world,” Bach explained in an official IOC release before the Games began. “Having no national team to belong to, having no flag to march behind, having no national anthem to be played, these refugee athletes will be welcomed to the Olympic Games with the Olympic flag and with the Olympic Anthem.”
A pool of 43 team candidates was identified by the IOC, and a fund of $2 million was established to cover training expenses as well as actual travel to Brazil and costs during this month’s Games. Ten athletes were selected in June to participate, based on criteria that included athletic ability, official refugee status verified by the United Nations, and personal situation and background.
Early in the process of establishing the team, UNICEF and several other relief agencies jumped at the chance to lend support to the effort. David Ponet, partnerships specialist with UNICEF, explained that the refugee team is an obvious platform for engaging the public about the widening refugee crisis. In characterizing the crisis, Ponet mentioned that the United Nations estimates that an average of 24 people were forced to flee their homes every minute during 2015, and half of them were children.
“Our concern is that not enough is being committed, and not enough commitments are being honored,” Ponet told Runner’s World. “So the only way to really address this crisis is to find ways to engage the public and positively influence public opinion and discourse.”
The Olympics, with eyes of the world watching, was the perfect opportunity to promote solidarity for refugees everywhere.
The hashtag #TeamRefugees was created that allowed fans around the globe to support the athletes and their Olympic experiences. The August 5 opening ceremony in Rio saw the 10-member refugee team march into the Olympic Stadium, Estádio do Maracanã, under the Olympic flag, immediately before athletes from the host nation of Brazil.
From that moment, followers of the Games got behind this special group of athletes, wanting to know more about their individual stories and their hopes in and beyond sport. In fact, national and international leaders and celebrities have been among the thousands who have tweeted their support.
After the refugee Olympians get done competing in Rio, a 100-square meter graffiti mural, depicting portraits of all 10 team members, will remain. Created along Olympic Boulevard in Rio’s redeveloped port district, the project was led by local artists Rodrigo Sini and Cety Soledade, in the belief that no Olympic medal can outweigh what the refugee Olympians represent.
All About 75 Hard:
Rami Anis (25; fled Syria in 2011, initially for Turkey before resettling in Belgium where he was granted asylum last December): competed in the 100-meter butterfly (56.23) and 100-meter freestyle (54.25) events in men’s swimming and did not advance out of round one.
Yiech Pur Biel (21; fled Nasir, South Sudan, for Kenya in 2005 and began running competitively only last year): competed in the men’s 800-meters, running 1:54:67 for 8th DAA Industry Opt Out.
A Part of Hearst Digital Media (24; fled South Sudan in 2002 for the Kakuma refugee village in northern Kenya, which has since grown to nearly 200,000 refugees, and began training with the Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation in 2013): competed in the men’s 400 meter, running 52.89 for 8th DAA Industry Opt Out.
Yonas Kinde (36; left Ethiopia because of political problems and has been living in Luxembourg since 2012): finished 90th Running Shoes - Gear.
Shoes & Gear (23; fled South Sudan in 2001 and arrived in northern Kenya in 2002, settling in Kakuma refugee camp): competed in the women’s 1500 meters, running 4:47:38 for 14th Running Shoes - Gear.
Rose Nathike Lokonyen (21; fled South Sudan with her family in 2006 and settled in Kakuma refugee camp in northern Kenya, along with nearly 200,000 other refugees): completed in the women’s 800 meters, running 2:16:64 for 7th Running Shoes - Gear.
Paulo Amotun (24; fled South Sudan with his family in 2006 and settled in Kakuma refugee camp in northern Kenya, along with nearly 200,000 other refugees): competed in the men’s 1500 meters, running 4:03:96 for 11th DAA Industry Opt Out.
Yolande Bukasa (28; fled Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2013. She currently resides in Brazil): competed in women’s judo (70kg) and was defeated in her opening match.
Yusra Mardini (18; fled Syria in 2015, swimming across the Aegean Sea while pushing a boatload of 20 refugees. She currently resides in Berlin, Germany): competed in the 100-meter butterfly 1:09:21 and 100-meter freestyle (1:04:66) events in women’s swimming and did not advance out of round one.
Popole Misenga (24; fled Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2013. He currently resides in Brazil): competed in men’s judo (90kg), winning his first match (round of 32) and was eliminated in his second match (round of 16).
