The Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF) has revealed the addition of five new Refugee Athlete Scholarship-holders, marking a significant step towards their training and potential selection to represent the IOC Refugee Olympic Team at Paris 2024.
With this announcement, the program now supports a total of 74 refugee athletes hailing from 12 nations, residing in 24 host countries, and participating in 14 different sports.
The composition of the Refugee Olympic Team for the upcoming Paris 2024 Games will be disclosed by Thomas Bach, the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), during an exclusive live-streamed event scheduled for May 2nd.
The latest cohort of athletes comprises individuals excelling in diverse disciplines, including weightlifting, swimming, boxing, running, and canoeing.
Notably, the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Spain is hosting a refugee athlete for the first time.
Here are the new additions to the program:
- Matin Balsini (Swimming; from Iran, hosted by NOC: UK)
- Fernando Dayan Enriquez (Canoeing; from Cuba, hosted by NOC: US)
- Musa Suliman (Athletics; from Sudan, hosted by NOC: Switzerland)
- Ramiro Mora (Weightlifting; from Cuba, hosted by NOC: UK)
- Aryan Saed Panah (Boxing; from Iran, hosted by NOC: Spain)
To qualify for the program, athletes must demonstrate elite-level skills in their respective sports and hold refugee status recognized by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
The final selection of the Refugee Olympic Team for Paris 2024 will be determined by the IOC Executive Board (EB), taking into account each athlete’s athletic performance, as well as ensuring balanced representation across sports, genders, and regions.
As they gear up for Paris 2024, the Refugee Athlete Support program, overseen by the ORF and financed by the IOC’s Olympic Solidarity, provides these athletes with the necessary resources and assistance to pursue their training and competitive endeavours at the highest echelons.
Each of the scholarship recipients embodies resilience and determination, having overcome numerous obstacles before finding refuge in their host countries.
Their stories speak volumes about the transformative power of sports. For instance:
- Musa Suliman, originally a football enthusiast from Sudan, discovered a newfound passion for running in Switzerland, which profoundly impacted his confidence and social connections.
- Matin Balsini, a swimmer from Iran, found solace and tranquillity in the waters of the UK.
- Ramiro Mora, a weightlifter from Cuba, surpassed initial challenges to become a record holder in multiple weight categories.
- Aryan Saed Panah, an Iranian boxer, credits his turbulent past for instilling strength and resilience, both in and out of the ring.
- Fernando Dayan Enriquez, a Cuban canoeist and Olympic gold medalist, aspires to reclaim the pinnacle of success at Paris 2024.
Beyond the realm of elite competition, the IOC Refugee Olympic Team and the Refugee Athlete Scholarship holders symbolize the struggles and fortitude of over 110 million displaced individuals globally.
In addition to supporting elite athletes, the ORF strives to promote access to safe sports for displaced populations worldwide.
Through initiatives like the Sport for Refugees Coalition, in collaboration with UNHCR and the Scort Foundation, and programs such as Sport Coach+, offering trauma-informed coaching with the IFRC PS Centre, the ORF aims to foster a movement where sports serve as a catalyst for inclusion at all levels, empowering refugees worldwide.
Stay updated on their remarkable journey by following the IOC Refugee Olympic Team on various social media platforms:
- Refugee Olympic Team – X
- Refugee Olympic Team – Instagram
- Refugee Olympic Team – Facebook
- Olympic Refuge Foundation – LinkedIn
As anticipation builds for Paris 2024, these refugee athletes exemplify the transformative power of sports in overcoming adversity and inspiring hope on a global scale.