Refugee Olympic Team at the 2016 Summer Olympics | |
---|---|
IOC code | EOR (ROT used at these Games) |
in Rio de Janeiro | |
Competitors | 10 in 3 sports |
Flag bearers | Rose Lokonyen (opening)[1] Popole Misenga (closing) |
Medals |
|
Summer Olympics appearances (overview) | |
The Refugee Olympic Team competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016, as independent Olympic participants.
In March 2016, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach declared that the IOC would choose five to ten refugees to compete at the 2016 Summer Olympics, in the context of the "worldwide refugee crisis",[2] of which the European migrant crisis is a prominent part.[3] Additionally, as part of an effort "to show solidarity with the world's refugees",[4] the United Nations Refugee Agency selected Ibrahim Al-Hussein, a Syrian refugee residing in Athens, Greece, to carry the Olympic flame through the Eleonas refugee and migrant camp in the city as part of the 2016 torch relay.[5]
Initially, the team was named "Team of Refugee Olympic Athletes", with the IOC country code ROA,[6] but in June 2016 this was changed to Refugee Olympic Team with the country code ROT.[7][8]
The athletes officially competed under the Olympic Flag. The Refugee Nation flag was also used in an unofficial capacity to represent the team.[9]
team
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