17th July 2024 - The Refugee Olympic Team, including athletes, coaches and staff have all arrived in France and have gathered in the historic town of Bayeux, Normandy for a pre-Games welcome camp.
The event is an opportunity for the athletes to meet for the first time and create a sense of unity amongst a team. The Refugee Olympic Team is made up of 37 athletes coming from many different countries, living in 15 countries and representing 12 different sports.
Appearing for the third consecutive Olympic Games, the Refugee Olympic Team Paris 2024 is the largest yet, reflective of the growing number of refugees globally. In Paris, the Refugee Olympic Team will represent more than 100 million displaced people globally.
Masomah Ali Zada, Chef de Mission for the Refugee Olympic Team, said: “For me the Refugee Olympic Team, as I always say, is a unique team. I was also a member of this team and I know how important this team is for all athletes, refugee athletes, to represent the community of refugees, the 100 million refugees around the world.
“It's an objective of this team to win a medal and to make them proud like other countries. It's so important that we could give access support to all refugees at all levels and even for the Olympic Games, so it's important to have this team for the refugee athletes.”
With its rich history, strong understanding of the impact of war, and affinity with the plight of refugees, Bayeux was considered a perfect host to bring the team together prior to the Olympic Games.
While in Bayeux, the athletes have had access to top-level training facilities to continue their preparation including an athletics track, a swimming pool, a badminton court and a hall for practising combat sports and martial arts.
They are also taking part in a number of team-building activities. The team will take part in a bike ride to the symbolic Arromanche beach, known as one of the beaches where the D-Day landings took place.
The Team will now travel to Paris and stay at the Olympic Village. Some athletes will be given the opportunity to return to their host countries or a training camp of their choosing to ensure optimal preparations for the Olympic Games.
The Refugee Olympic Team, and the Refugee Athlete Support programme, both managed by the Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF), allows elite level athletes who would otherwise not have an opportunity, to compete on the world’s biggest sporting stage, the Olympic Games.
The Olympic Games Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony is on July 26 and the Games run until August 11. The Paralympic Games Paris 2024 take place from August 28 to September 8.
