Largest Refugee Olympic Team yet meets for the first time ahead of the Games
Reflective of the growing number of refugees globally, the team has gathered in the historic town of Bayeux, Normandy for a pre-Olympics welcome meeting.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00The Refugee Olympic team, including athletes, coaches and staff, have all arrived in France
00:07to take part in a pre-games welcome camp.
00:11The event is an opportunity for the athletes to meet for the first time and create a sense
00:16of unity amongst the team.
00:18The Refugee Olympic team is made up of 37 athletes from several countries and competing
00:24in 12 different sports.
00:26Appearing for the third consecutive Olympic Games, this year's Refugee team is the largest
00:32yet, reflective of the growing number of refugees globally.
00:37I have a mission. I want to represent in the Olympics, not just only for one Refugee Intake
00:42Fund. I want to be in the Olympics as a 100 million people. They are displaced, they are
00:47in a really, really difficult situation.
00:50We are 37 athletes for 120 million refugees in the world. We want to draw people's attention
01:00to the fact that we are not just 37 athletes, but hundreds of millions of refugees, homeless
01:06people who have no hope. Hopefully we can change something.
01:11With its rich history, strong understanding of the impact of war and affinity with the
01:16plight of refugees, Bayeux was considered a perfect host to bring the team together.
01:39The opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics takes place on July 26th and the Games run
01:44until August 11th.