Paris Olympic 2024
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) established the Refugee Olympic Team to raise awareness about the global refugee crisis and provide a platform for athletes who have been displaced from their home countries due to conflict, persecution, or other crises. This initiative aims to highlight the plight of refugees worldwide and demonstrate the unifying power of sports. It was first introduced at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics with only 10 athletes.
The Paris Olympic Games 2024 welcomed the biggest-ever delegation of refugees with 37 athletes competing across 12 sports for the Refugee Olympic Team. These athletes have endured significant challenges and represent the resilience of all refugees.
One of the most important achievements in the games was Cindy Ngamba’s historic bronze medal win in boxing. Ngamba earned the first ever and only medal for the Refugee Olympic Team during the Paris Olympic Games 2024. Ngamba was born in Cameroon and was granted asylum in the UK after coming out as gay in 2022. Ngamba is the only out LGBT athlete from the Refugee Olympic Team.
Some of these 37 athletes competing in Paris found initial refuge in Turkey before settling in a safe third country. Below are some of these athletes:
Amin Alsalami left his hometown of Aleppo, Syria to build a future without bombs and violence. He initially crossed the border from Syria to Turkey but eventually settled in Germany, learned German, and made new friends. He is now living his dream of becoming a world-class athlete.
Amin Alsalami is a long jumper who participated at the 2024 Paris Olympics under the Athletics branch.
Mahdavi made a harrowing journey by foot from Iran to Turkey with only the clothes he was wearing, then flew to Italy and applied for asylum. Alongside training, he works as a bouncer at a nightclub to support his dream. The sacrifice is big, but the reward of making it to Paris from the shores of the Caspian Sea where he grew up make it all worthwhile.
Mahdavi represented the Refugee Olympic Team in the men’s freestyle 74kg competition.
Khankan is originally from Damascus, Syria and had to flee his country after war broke out. After a long and hard journey of crossing through Turkey and eventually settling in Germany, he started his education and training. He recalls watching the Refugee Olympic Team in 2016 as a moment that truly gave him hope.
Khankan represented the Refugee Olympic Team in Judo (-100 kg).
The Paris Olympic Games 2024 was an opportunity for members of the Refugee Olympic Team to represent all refugees and displaced people in the games. Their participation is a testament to their resilience and excellence but also sends a powerful message of hope, belonging, and inclusion.
