Summer Games: Refugees compete under Olympic flag

Since 2016, the International Olympic Committee has recognized the international refugee crisis by creating an Olympic Refugee Team.

First observed in Rio 2016 and then in Tokyo 2020, these athletes compete under the Olympic flag. The 2024 Games will feature a dedicated team of refugee athletes, symbolizing hope, resilience and the power of sport to transcend borders.

The inclusion of refugee teams in the Olympics is a testament to the International Olympic Committee’s commitment to providing opportunities for athletes who have been displaced from their homes due to conflict, persecution or other humanitarian crises. It sends a powerful message of solidarity and support to refugees around the world, highlighting their talent and determination in the face of adversity.

IOC President Thomas Bach said the refugee team sends a signal about how refugees enrich the Olympic community.

“Watching them compete is a great moment for all of us, and we hope everyone will join. The athletes are welcome in our Olympic community, among their fellow athletes — competing with them, but also living with them together under one roof.”

The refugee team at the 2024 Paris Olympics will include athletes from different countries and backgrounds, all united by their shared experience of displacement. These athletes have overcome immense challenges to pursue their sporting dreams, often training in difficult conditions and facing uncertainty about their futures. By competing on the world stage, they inspire millions of people with their courage and resilience.

The original refugee team in 2016 included 10 athletes who were originally from Ethiopia, South Sudan, Syria and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2020, an Olympic scholarship for refugee athletes made it possible for more athletes to contribute. The program supported 56 refugee athletes from 13 countries, who eventually made up a team of 29 athletes competing in 12 sports.

The teams are funded by Olympic Solidarity. It offers host countries the chance to identify refugee athletes living in their countries and to support them through training, preparation and participation in high-level competitions.

The IOC is expanding its support of refugee athletes with the Olympic Refuge Foundation that aids displaced young people and helps give them access to sport. The Foundation helps refugee athletes even if they do not compete in the Olympic Games.

The refugee team at the 2024 Paris Olympics will carry with them the hopes and aspirations of millions of refugees worldwide. Their participation highlights the plight of refugees and celebrates their strength, courage and humanity. It is a reminder that, regardless of their circumstances, refugees have the potential to achieve greatness and make a positive contribution to the world.

“This will be a symbol of hope for all refugees in the world and will make the world better aware of the magnitude of this crisis,” Bach said. “It is also a signal to the international community that refugees are our fellow human beings and are an enrichment to society.”