Perina Lokure Nakang, a 21-year-old South Sudanese runner, first discovered her passion for running while covering 9 miles (14 kilometers) near her refugee camp in northwestern Kenya. Now, she is competing in the Paris Olympics as part of the Olympic Refugee Team. Nakang is among the 37 athletes pushing for more refugees to have the opportunity to compete in the Games, hoping to inspire and represent the global refugee community.
Former refugee Olympians and U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi are strong supporters of this cause. Grandi described the team as “a symbol of inclusion, equality, and achievement for a large community around the world of refugees and displaced people.” The Olympic Refugee Team, initiated at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, started with just 10 athletes from four countries. It has now expanded to include dozens of athletes from 11 countries, including Cuba, Afghanistan, and South Sudan.
The team offers hope and a chance to reclaim lost dreams for many refugees who had to start over in new countries. The Paris Olympics, emphasizing diversity and inclusion, has highlighted the refugee team’s significance amid historic global migration. During the opening ceremonies, Grandi received the Olympic laurel for his support of the refugee team and his dedication to promoting the power of sport for refugees.
Grandi emphasized the importance of refugees gaining dignity and identity through sports, becoming active participants in their communities rather than objects of charity. The current political climate in France, marked by the rise of the far-right and anti-immigration policies, has brought additional challenges. Paris authorities have faced criticism for dismantling homeless camps, largely populated by African migrants from former French colonies.
Despite these challenges, the platform provided by the Olympics is seen as crucial in humanizing refugees and highlighting their potential. Yiech Pur Biel, another South Sudanese runner and one of the first 10 athletes on the Olympic Refugee Team in 2016, now works with UNHCR in Nebraska. He hopes the team can inspire and demonstrate the capabilities of refugees, ultimately aiming to reduce the need for a separate refugee team.
Biel expressed his hope for the future, saying, “The team will grow. We don’t want to see (refugee populations) growing, but no one can control what is happening in the world. Our end goal is to have people and end (the need) for a refugee team.”
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