For the first time in Modern Olympic Games History, there’s finally an official Refugee Olympic Team (ROT). Created by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the goal of the Refugee Olympic Team is to “act as a symbol of hope for refugees worldwide and bring global attention to the magnitude of the refugee crisis when they take part in the Olympic Games this summer.” At the Rio 2016 Olympics this August, we have seen the ten athletes that have battled for their lives and to succeed in their sport. The ten athletes include five South Sudanese athletes, two Syrian athletes, two athletes from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and one athlete from Ethiopia. But the creation of the ROT provides more to the refugees than a platform to compete, it shines a light on the stories of these refugees and reminds the 26.5 million viewers that these countries are still in conflict.The athletes are spreading messages of hope to the other refugees in camps, but also
But the creation of the ROT provides more to the refugees than a platform to compete, it shines a light on the stories of these refugees and reminds the 26.5 million viewers that these countries are still in conflict.The athletes are spreading messages of hope to the other refugees in camps, but also reminds us that the fight for refugees is far from over. The refugee situation has not improved and needs serious fixing. According to Vox Magazine, at the time of the last Summer Olympics “there were only 11 million global refugees. Four years later, that number has increased by nearly three-quarters — both because of new and worsening crises and because, more than ever, longtime refugees are unable to go home.” It even provides a platform for organizations such as Visa sponsor the refugee athletes, which is unprecedented. A major hope for the UNHCR is that the ROT is to recreate the image of the refugee. Often seen as villains or terrorist, according to Amnesty International, a major supporter of the ROT, the ROT is an “opportunity to change how the public thinks of refugees.” The games are a place for ‘refugee stereotype’ to disappear, allowing for both the viewers and the athletes to feel empowered. For example, the story of Yusra Mardini, the
A major hope for the UNHCR is that the ROT is to recreate the image of the refugee. Often seen as villains or terrorist, according to Amnesty International, a major supporter of the ROT, the ROT is an “opportunity to change how the public thinks of refugees.” The games are a place for ‘refugee stereotype’ to disappear, allowing for both the viewers and the athletes to feel empowered. For example, the story of Yusra Mardini, the 18-year-old Syrian Swimmer who gained fame after the story of how she and her sister swam and pushed their boat shore, was in an ad. People around the world fell in love with Yusra, showing hope that the image refugees currently have can be shifted.
Although the Olympics are making historic changes and ultimately helping refugees today, the hope is that in the coming Olympics that no ROT is needed, for all there will be a significant amount of displaced people. Till then, refugees in refugee camps will continue to compete at the highest level they can, and return to the Olympics to remind the world who they are.
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