For the Olympics this year held in Rio Grande, Brazil, there will be athletes and representatives from over 200 countries. During the opening ceremony on this past Friday night, for the first time ever, the Refugee Olympic Team (ROT) walked in the annual Parade of Nations, waving the banner of the Olympic Games high.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) welcomed these athletes with open arms, choosing ten out of forty candidates based on not only sporting skill but also verified refugee status and personal background. These teammates hail from the four most troubled and affected countries on the globe: Syria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. They had been officially announced as a real team in June by the IOC's Executive Board. They will be treated as any other country's team will be treated, and will be supplied with housing, food, and athletic apparel. Even further, the Olympic Solidarity contract will cover travel and other expenses for participation for the team, and will continue to support the members even after the Olympic Games.
According to the United Nations, more than 65 million people were removed or displaced from their homes just last year, due to war, persecution, and human rights violations. In that 65 million, at least 21 million are considered refugees. The largest refugee population comes from Syria, with almost 5 million individuals alone. You may not even realize it, but there are refugees from all over the world here in America. I know a few people from Syria who attend my high school. Refugees are not people we turn our backs on, because they are normal people, and deserve to be treated that way. I believe this team is setting the bar relatively high for the rest of the world, and drawing a great deal of attention to the matter(s) at hand. As the president of the IOC puts it, "[They] are sending a message of hope to the many millions of refugees around the globe." It shows how far the world has come, and the progress that is being made towards helping out the 21 or so million refugees from sea to sea.
Here are the athletes competing in the 2016 Olympic Games held in Rio Grande, Brazil:
1. Rami Anis - Swimming; Country of Origin: Syria
2. Yiech Pur Biel - Track & Field; Country of Origin: South Sudan
3. Yolande Bukasa Mabika - Judo; Country of Origin: Democratic Republic of Congo
4. Yonas Kinde - Track & Field; Country of Origin: Ethiopia
5. Angelina Nada Lohalith - Track & Field; Country of Origin: South Sudan
6. Yusra Mardini - Swimming; Country of Origin: Syria
7. James Nyang Chiengjiek - Track & Field; Country of Origin: South Sudan
8. Popole Misenga - Judo; Country of Origin: Democratic Republic of Congo
9. Paulo Amotun Lokoro - Track & Field; Country of Origin: South Sudan
10. Rose Nathike Lokonyen - Track & Field; Country of Origin: South Sudan
Watch them make history over the next few weeks, and see the Olympic Games be forever changed. Their accomplishments will be celebrated, and their voices will be heard.
