These are the 29 athletes competing for the Refugee Olympic Team in Tokyo
They come from different nations and play different sports, but they all have one thing in common: they were forced to flee their home countries and overcome extraordinary obstacles to reach the world’s biggest sporting event.
The 29 men and women representing the second-ever Refugee Olympic Team joined the parade of athletes at the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony on Friday in a moment seen as a rare sign of hope for the millions of people forcibly displaced around the world.
“Dear refugee athletes, with your talent and human spirit, you are demonstrating what an enrichment refugees are for society,” Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, said during his remarks at the kick-off event.
“You had to flee from your homes because of violence, hunger or just because you were different. Today, we welcome you with open arms and offer you a peaceful home,” he said.
This first refugee team competed at the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, following an official announcement by the United Nations General Assembly a year earlier. It was an effort to address the world’s growing refugee crisis and send a message of hope and inclusion to the more than 80 million displaced people around the world, according to the IOC.
This year’s refugee athletes come from eight different countries — Afghanistan, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, South Sudan, Syria and Venezuela. They’ll be competing in athletics, badminton, boxing, flatwater kayaking, judo, karate, road cycling, shooting, swimming, taekwondo, weightlifting and wrestling.
Entrance of the @RefugeesOlympic Team in the stadium during the #Tokyo2020 opening ceremony.
We wish them success and we think of all refugees and displaced people around the world for whom they are a sign of hope! pic.twitter.com/CjhfB6Ajdl— Filippo Grandi (@FilippoGrandi) July 23, 2021
Here’s the full roster for this year’s Refugee Olympic Team, along with their sports and home countries:
Anjelina Nadai Lohalith: athletics, South Sudan
Dorian Keletela, athletics, DR Congo
Jamal Abdelmaji Eisa Mohammed, athletics, South Sudan
James Nyang Chiengjiek, athletics, South Sudan
Paulo Amotun Lokoro, athletics, Kenya
Rose Nathike Likonyen, athletics, South Sudan
Tachlowini Gabriyesos, athletics, Eritrea
Aram Mahmoud, badminton, Syria
Eldric Sella Rodriguez, boxing, Venezuela
For the second time in its history, the Olympic Games welcome the IOC Refugee Olympic Team!❤️
Leading the delegation into the stadium are the flagbearers, swimmer @YusraMardini and marathon runner Tachlowini Gabriyesos.#StrongerTogether #OpeningCeremony #EoR @RefugeesOlympic pic.twitter.com/ftVl2Kzd4H— Olympics (@Olympics) July 23, 2021
Wessam Salamana, boxing, Syria
Saeid Fazloula, canoe / kayak flatwater, Iran
Ahmad Baddredin Wais, road cycling, Syria
Ahmad Alikaj, judo, Syria
Javad Mahjoub, judo, Iran
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Masomah Ali Zada, road cycling, Afghanistan
Muna Dahouk, judo, Syria
Nigara Shaheen, judo, Afghanistan
Popole Misenga, judo, DR Congo
Sanda Aldass, judo, Syria
After fleeing his war-torn home country, wrestler Aker Al Obaidi relied on sport to help him move forward. Now, his mind is set on one goal... winning a medal at #Tokyo2020 as part of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team. 🤼♂️#RefugeeOlympicTeam #StrongerTogether #Hope @refugees pic.twitter.com/7HZrS2YWP7
— Refugee Olympic Team (@RefugeesOlympic) July 21, 2021
Hamoon Derafshipour, karate, Iran
Wael Shueb, karate, Syria
Luna Solomon, shooting, Eritrea
Yusra Mardini, swimming, Syria
Alaa Maso, swimming, Syria
Abdullah Sediqi, taekwondo, Afghanistan
Dina Pouryounes Langeroudi, taekwondo, Iran
Kimia Alizadeh Zenozi, taekwondo, Iran
Cyrille Tchatchet II, weightlifting, Cameroon
Aker Al Obaidi, wrestling, Iraq