The Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Dakar, Senegal, will feature a historic participation of a team composed of young refugees. Six adolescents, aged 15 to 17, from different countries and living in Kenya and Uganda, will take part in the competition. They will participate in athletics, judo, and taekwondo events, under the Olympic flag, as they cannot represent their countries of origin. This participation highlights the potential of young displaced individuals and the challenges faced by millions of refugee children worldwide.
The six athletes, comprising three girls and three boys, were selected through a program that allowed over 2,000 participants to take part in regional events in Uganda. They met for the first time in September for a preparation camp in Kaptagat, Kenya, where they received guidance from Eliud Kipchoge, a double Olympic marathon champion. The team is led by Yiech Pur Biel, a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and a refugee himself, who participated in the 2016 Rio Olympics as part of the first refugee Olympic team.
The team, assembled by the IOC, is managed by the Olympic Foundation for Refugees, with support from sports authorities in Kenya and Uganda, as well as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Two team members were selected through Game Connect, a community program that facilitates the transition from sports in refugee camps to high-level competition. This participation marks progress in accessing high-level sports for young refugees.
The athletes, including Florence Masumbe and Rachid Rochene, are from the Democratic Republic of Congo and have grown up in Uganda after fleeing their country with their families. Florence discovered athletics in school and was identified through a program for young refugees, while Rachid grew up in a Kampala neighborhood and developed his athletic skills there. Their selection is a result of a device that allowed over 2,000 participants to take part in regional events in Uganda.
The Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, which will run until November 13, mark a historic milestone as the first time the African continent hosts the Olympic Games. Around 2,700 athletes from around the world are expected to participate in the events. The participation of the refugee team sheds light on the challenges faced by millions of displaced children, who often experience interrupted education, family separation, and limited access to sports infrastructure.
According to UNHCR data, over 117 million people are currently forcibly displaced worldwide, with 39 million in sub-Saharan Africa. Nearly half of the displaced individuals on the African continent are children, who face significant challenges, including loss of home, interrupted education, and limited opportunities for growth and development. The participation of the refugee team in the YOG highlights the need for support and opportunities for these young individuals.
The participation of the refugee team in the Youth Olympic Games is a significant step towards providing opportunities for young displaced individuals to engage in high-level sports. The team’s involvement in the competition serves as a symbol of hope and resilience for millions of refugee children worldwide, who face significant challenges in their daily lives. The Olympic Foundation for Refugees and the UNHCR will continue to support the development of sports programs for refugees, aiming to provide more opportunities for young individuals to participate in sports and improve their lives.
Key points
- The Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, feature the first-ever participation of a refugee team, comprising six young athletes from different countries.
- The team’s participation highlights the challenges faced by millions of displaced children worldwide, including interrupted education, family separation, and limited access to sports infrastructure.
- The Olympic Foundation for Refugees and the UNHCR are working to provide opportunities for young refugee individuals to engage in high-level sports and improve their lives.
