For the first time ever, there will be an Olympics team represented entirely by refugees.
The refugee crisis is one that has divided public opinion for a while now. Although the Olympics serve as a platform for athletes to escape the strife that they may experience in their home country, the Rio Olympics committee is giving the chance for one side to display their struggles outwardly.
Yahoo Sports is reporting that the 2016 Summer Olympics will feature a team of 10 athletes made up entirely of refugees from war-torn countries. Five will come from South Sudan, two from Syria, two from Congo, and one from Ethiopia. The purpose is to give them a home in the Olympic village and treat them with the same respect as other nations around the globe.
They will march ahead of Brazil in the Opening Ceremonies under the generic Olympics flag, and will only compete in swimming, judo, and athletics. Even if the refugee team doesn’t win any medals, this is a watershed moment in the history of the Olympic games.
The IOC is willing to set aside their differences and include athletes from countries that aren’t treated as fairly as others. The purpose is to show that these countries are capable of producing people who can make a positive contribution to society, and get rid of the stigma that only terrorists come from these countries. Their participation in only three sports ensures that they won’t become a big distraction throughout these games.
This is a courageous move on the part of the Olympics committee, although it’s sure to be an unpopular one. Let’s see how the public will react to this news both in the lead-up, and during the games itself.
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