The Olympics are a time for athletes from all over the world to proudly represent their home countries on the biggest stage in sports. But what happens if you’re an athlete without a country?
Well, this year, amidst the global refugee crisis, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided to account for the millions of displaced people across the world by hosting the first Refugee Olympic Team at the Rio Olympics, which begin in August.
Forty-three athletes were considered, and on Friday the IOC announced the official 10-member team, which consists of two refugees originally from Syria, five originally from South Sudan, two originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and one originally from Ethiopia. They will be competing in swimming, athletics (400m, 800m, 1500m, and marathon), and judo.
The team will play under the Olympic flag, and will march right before the host nation Brazil in the Opening Ceremonies.
“These refugees have no home, no team, no flag, no national anthem,” IOC president Thomas Bach said in a press release. “We will offer them a home in the Olympic Village together with all the athletes of the world. The Olympic anthem will be played in their honor, and the Olympic flag will lead them into the Olympic Stadium.”
Two of the team members are Popole Misenga and Yolande Bukasa Mabika, both judo athletes formerly from the Congo. They have been living and training in Brazil for three years, ever since seeking asylum in the country after travelling there for the 2013 World Judo Championships in Rio. Their home country was ravaged by war, and their national judo coaches were incredibly abusive — as reported by The Guardian, the coaches would lock athletes up when they lost, even in practice, and refuse to feed them for days at a time.
I will fight for all refugees in the world, to defend all refugees in the world.
It has not been easy — both have had trouble finding employment in Brazil, even in communities that have a large African population. Mabika hasn’t had any contact with her family since leaving her country, and still has to stay with friends because she cannot afford a place of her own. Misenga, whose mother died in the war, works in a favela in north Rio loading trucks, and travels two hours each way for judo practice six days a week.
Through it all, their Olympic dreams have been a reason to keep fighting, both literally and figuratively.
“I cannot fight for my country. I will fight for the Olympics. I will fight for all refugees in the world, to defend all refugees in the world,” Mabika said, adding that she hopes the visibility she gains from Olympic competition will help her reconnect with her family. “If I participated in the Olympics, I think it would change my life.”
“I represent everyone,” Misenga said. “I’ll get a medal for all refugees.”
The Olympics are currently mired in scandal and controversy, but Bach hopes that the Refugee Team will be a beacon of hope for the 20 million people across the globe who have been forced to leave their countries.
“This will be a symbol of hope for all the refugees in our world, and will make the world better aware of the magnitude of this crisis,” he said. “It is also a signal to the international community that refugees are our fellow human beings and are an enrichment to society. These refugee athletes will show the world that despite the unimaginable tragedies that they have faced, anyone can contribute to society through their talent, skills and strength of the human spirit.”