Paris Olympics: Refugee Team Announced
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced the Refugee Team for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The team, consisting of 36 athletes from 11 countries, will compete in 12 different sports under their own emblem featuring a heart at its center surrounded by arrows.
Masomah Ali Zada, the chef de mission from Afghanistan, explained the importance of having their own emblem as it creates a sense of belonging for the athletes. The Refugee Team will compete in a variety of sports including athletics, badminton, boxing, breaking, canoeing, cycling, judo, shooting, swimming, taekwondo, weightlifting and wrestling.
Thomas Bach, IOC President shared that the team was selected from over 70 scholarships and expressed his excitement for this initiative. He stated that “The refugee team is a symbol of hope and resilience for those who have been forced to flee their homes due to war and persecution.”
The Paris Olympics are set to begin on July 24th and it will be a historic event as it marks the first time that refugees will be competing in the Games under their own flag.
