GettyImages-586849002

IOC Refugee Olympic Team

Refugee Olympic Team

Anjelina Nadai

Anjelina Portrait

Dorian

KELETELA-DORIAN-CROP

Jamal Abdelmaji

MOHAMMED-ABDELMAJI-EISA-JAMAL-CROP

James C.

James Nyang Portrait

Paulo Amotun

Paulo Amotun Portrait

Lokonyen

Rose Nathike Portrait

Tachlowini

GABRIYESOS-TACHLOWINI-CROP

Aram

Aram_Mahmoud_ ©UNHCR Bela-Szandelsky

Eldric Samuel

Eldric Portait

Wessam

Wessam 2 © UNHCR

Saeid

FAZLOULA-SAEID-CROP

Ahmad Badreddin

Badreddin Portrait

Ahmad Yamen

Ahmad-Alikaj-03

Javad

GettyImages-511569910

Masomah

©Masomah

Muna

DAHOUK-MUNA-CROP

Nigara

SHAHEEN-NIGARA-CROP

Popole

Popole © UNHCR

Sanda

Sanda Portrait (1)

Hamoon

Hamoon_Derafshipour-©UNHCR (1)

Wael

Wael Shueb Portrait

Yusra

Yusra Mardini (2)

Alaa

MASO-ALAA-CROP

Abdullah

© IOC Abdullah-Sediqi-50

Dina

LANGEROUDI-POURYOUNES-DINA-CROP

Kimia

Kimia © UNHCR

Cyrille

cYRILLE

Aker

Aker Portrait

IOC Refugee Olympic Team Roster 

Tachlowini Gabriyesos is running for refugees everywhere and proved what a talent he is, finishing 16th in the Olympic marathon at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
The 23-year-old was chosen as the IOC Refugee Team flag bearer at the Tokyo 2020 Opening Ceremony, and had another unforgettable moment on Sunday (8

Tachlowini GABRIYESOS

Tokyo 2020 | Olympic Games

SAPPORO, JAPAN - AUGUST 08: Tachlowini Gabriyesos reacts while competing in the Men's Marathon Final on day sixteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Sapporo Odori Park on August 08, 2021 in Sapporo, Japan. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

Tachlowini Gabriyesos reacts while competing in the Men's Marathon Final on day sixteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Sapporo Odori Park on August 08, 2021 in Sapporo, Japan. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

Refugee runner Tachlowini Gabriyesos in top 20 at Tokyo 2020 marathon: "Everything is possible"

Wael Shueb realised his ambition of competing at the Olympic Games on Friday (6 August).
The 33-year-old Syrian-born refugee was one of 11 men taking part in the kata karate competition at Tokyo 2020.
The IOC Refugee Olympic Team member scored 23.20 for his first routine, improving to 23.40 in

Wael SHUEB

Wael Shueb action

Wael Shueb hopes Olympic debut gives "strength" to refugees worldwide

“I believe karate is in my blood.”
Refugee Olympic Athlete Hamoon Derafshipour shares his belief with conviction to Olympics.com.
“I grew up with karate, and karate starts with respect and finishes with respect.”
When news broke that karate would be featuring at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Games, the 2018 world

Hamoon DERAFSHIPOUR

Iranian refugee Hamoon Derafshipour poses for a portrait at the Driftwood karate dojo in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, on Tuesday, May 11, 2021.

¬©UNHCR/Chris Young ; Iranian refugee Hamoon Derafshipour, who currently lives in Canada, is hoping to represent the Refugee Olympic Team at the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games, in men's karate (-67 kilos).

Hamoon Derafshipour: The refugee karetka achieving the Olympic dream with his wife

IOC Refugee Olympic Team member Anjelina Nadai Lohalith made Tokyo 2020 another milestone to remember after she ran a personal best performance in the 1500m.
The South Sudan born runner clocked 4:31.65 in her heat to finish the race in 14th position.
Although Lohalith didn't qualify for the following round

Anjelina Nadai LOHALITH

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - JULY 31:  Anjaline Lohalith of the Olympic Refugee Team talks while attending a press conference given by the Olympic Refugee Team on July 31, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  (Photo by Ker Robertson/Getty Images)

Anjelina Lohalith

Refugee athlete Anjelina Nadai Lohalith tops second Olympic outing with personal best performance

IOC Refugee Olympic team member Saeid Fazloula has finally accomplished his dream of competing at an Olympic Games.
Showing the full force of his canoeing prowess the Iranian refugee paddled to a fourth place finish in the third quarterfinal of the men's kayak single 1000m event at Tokyo 2020.
Although

Saeid FAZLOULA

Fazloula1

Saeid Fazloula paddles with pride in Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020

Cyrille Tchatchet II of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team made his Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, in 2021 one to remember.
The Cameroonian lifter came second in Group B of the men's 96kg weightlifting competition, to finish tenth overall in the event.
Tchatchet was unable to find success on his

Cyrille TCHATCHET II

TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 31: Cyrille Tchatchet II of Refugee Olympic Team competes during the Weightlifting - Men's 96kg Group B on day eight of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo International Forum on July 31, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Cyrille Tchatchet Tokyo 2020

Refugee athlete Cyrille Tchatchet soars in Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020

IOC Refugee Olympic Team sprinter Dorian Keletela's journey at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics has come to an end after he finished his men's 100m heat in eighth place.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo-born athlete achieved his goal of making it to the second stage after he ran in some

Dorian KELETELA

TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 31:  Dorian Keletela of Refugee Olympic Team finishes first in the Men's 100m Preliminary Round - Heat 3 on day eight of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on July 31, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Dorian Keletela

IOC Refugee Olympic Team's Dorian Keletela sets PB in 100m heats at Tokyo 2020

The Olympic Games are about much more than medals.
One of the most uplifting stories oat Tokyo 2020 so far has been the participation of the IOC Refugee Athlete Team.
29 athletes have taken part under the neutral flag of the Refugee Team at Tokyo 2020, each one telling a

Judo

TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 31: Team Germany and Refugee Olympic Team acknowledge each other during the Mixed Team Elimination Round of 16 on day eight of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Nippon Budokan on July 31, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Team Germany and Refugee Olympic Team acknowledge each other during the Mixed Team Elimination Round of 16 on day eight of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Nippon Budokan on July 31, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Refugee Athletes are stronger together in judo's curtain-closing mixed team event

There was devastation for IOC Refugee Olympic Team runner James Nyang Chiengjiek, who finished last in his men's 800m heat after an early fall.
Just after the start of the race, the South Sudanese refugee accidentally clipped another athlete's foot and tumbled to the ground.
But Chiengjiek showed the spirit

James Chiengjiek NYANG

TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 31: James Nyang Chiengjiek of Refugee Olympic Team reacts after competing in round one of the Men's 800m heats on day eight of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on July 31, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

James Chiengjiek

IOC Refugee Olympic Team runner James Chiengjiek out after heartbreaking fall 

‘In Conversation’, a series of exclusive interviews bringing together members of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team Tokyo 2020 with personalities from the world of sport, film and entertainment. The series highlight the incredible journeys of the Olympic refugee athletes and provide new perspectives on refugees’ stories and raise awareness of the power of sport to help displaced people rebuild their lives. This episode IOC Refugee athlete Sanda Aldass and Raya Abirached - UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, TV Presenter and Journalist.

Sanda ALDASS

22753345_IN_CONVERSATION_SANDA_16_9_SRT_VDEF_00-00-12-00

In Conversation: Sanda and Raya

"Judo is beautiful," is the simple philosophy of IOC Refugee Athlete Javad Mahjoub.
He fled Iran for Canada and was chosen as one of six judoka selected on the 29-strong IOC Refugee Athlete Team to take part at the Tokyo Games.
When he stepped out on sacred judo ground at

Javad MAHJOUB

Javad Mahjoub of Refugee Olympic Team and Johannes Frey of Team Germany compete during the Men’s Judo +100kg Elimination Round of 32 on day seven of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Nippon Budokan on July 30, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

IOC Refugee Athlete Javad Mahjoub stands tall at Tokyo 2020

The tranquil of the pool.
It’s a place of serenity; of escape.
For Syrian refugee Alaa Maso, the feeling of carving up the water with his strokes as he swims through the pool is unlike anything else.
It’s a reminder of family; a connection to a father who coached and

Alaa MASO

Alaa portrait new

Alaa Maso: The refugee athlete who sacrificed everything for sport

‘In Conversation’, a series of exclusive interviews bringing together members of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team Tokyo 2020 with personalities from the world of sport, film and entertainment. The series highlight the incredible journeys of the Olympic refugee athletes and provide new perspectives on refugees’ stories and raise awareness of the power of sport to help displaced people rebuild their lives. This episode IOC Refugee athlete Alaa Maso and Alphonso Boyle Davies - Canadian professional football player who plays for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich.

22729204_In Conversation_ Alaa and Alphonso_3_00-00-09-06

In Conversation: Alaa and Alphonso

Nigara Shaheen made her Olympic debut at the Nippon Budokan on 28 July 2021 in the -70kg category, a high point in her incredible journey as an IOC Refugee Athlete.
Born in Afghanistan, her family fled Jalalabad on the banks of the Kabul River when she was six months old

EOR Portrait: Refugee Athlete Nigara Shaheen makes Tokyo 2020 debut.

Refugee Athlete Nigara Shaheen makes Tokyo 2020 debut.

Nigara Shaheen: The Refugee Role Model who made it all the way to Tokyo 2020 Olympics

It was an Olympic debut to remember for IOC Refugee Olympic Team athlete Masomah Ali Zada at Tokyo 2020.
The Afghanistan-born road cyclist may have finished 25th out of 25 athletes in the women’s individual time trial, but the result is not of significance.
Given the hardships and trauma Masomah

Masomah ALI ZADA

OYAMA, JAPAN - JULY 28: Masomah Ali Zada of Team EOR rides during the Women's Individual time trial on day five of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Fuji International Speedway on July 28, 2021 in Oyama, Shizuoka, Japan. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

Masomah Ali Zada

Refugee cyclist Masomah Ali Zada makes memorable Olympic debut

Judo has been a massive part of Muna Dahouk's life since she was six years old with her journey taking her all the way to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
On Tuesday (27 July), she stepped onto the mat at judo's spiritual home, the Nippon Budokan arena.
She faced what

Muna DAHOUK

Muna Dahouk judo Refugee Team

Muna Dahouk makes Olympic bow for IOC Refugee Olympic Team

Sanda Aldass is an inspiration.
The 31-year-old is a mother of three, a Syrian civil war refugee, and now she's officially an Olympian too.
Aldass made her debut in the spiritual home of judo, the Nippon Budokan, at Tokyo 2020 on Monday (26 July) to complete an epic journey since

The inspirational Sanda Aldass: Refugee, mother of three, Olympian

Ahmad Alikaj realised a lifelong dream today by stepping onto a judo mat at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Despite losing to Somon Makhmadbekov of Tajikistan, the refugee judoka enjoyed every minute of his Olympic experience.
The journey to this point was long and shadowed in doubt, even despair, Alikaj

Ahmad ALIKAJ

Ahmad Alikaj

Ahmad Alikaj: From escaping a war to debuting at an Olympic Games

Abdullah Sediqi has lived his dream of competing in taekwondo at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 as part of the IOC Olympic Refugee team.
Sediqi escaped armed gangs in Afghanistan and set out for Europe on foot, enduring endless 12-hour day walks, to arrive in Belgium where he trained in

Abdullah SEDIQI

CHIBA, JAPAN - JULY 25: Zhao Shuai of Team China (L) competes against Abdullah Sediqi of IOC Refugee Team during the Men's -68kg Taekwondo Round of 16 contest on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Makuhari Messe Hall on July 25, 2021 in Chiba, Japan. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

Abdullah Sediqi v Zhao Shuai

Refugee athlete Abdullah Sediqi makes proud Olympic bow

Aram Mahmoud has fulfilled his dream of becoming an Olympian.
The Dutch-based Syrian refugee is competing for the IOC Olympic Refugee Team at Tokyo 2020 but could not have faced a much tougher opener than medal contender Jonatan Christie.
The Indonesian took the first game in just 13 minutes, but

Aram MAHMOUD

Aram_Mahmoud_HD_1623148364934.jpg

"I don't just represent one country" - Aram Mahmoud makes Olympic debut

For the first time in nearly a decade, boxer Wessam Salamana was back at the Olympic Games.
A member of the Syrian team at London 2012, Salamana returned to the Olympic stage as part of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team on Sunday (25 July), defeated in the first round of

Wessam SALAMANA

TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 25: Wessam Salamana (R) of Refugee Olympic Team exchanges punches with Wanderson de Oliveira of Brazil during the Men's Light (57-63kg) on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Kokugikan Arena on July 25, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Luis Robayo - Pool/Getty Images)

wessam-salamana-GettyImages-1330518769

Wessam Salamana, IOC Refugee Olympic Team boxer, bows out in Tokyo 2020 opener

Olympic Opening Ceremonies are quite unlike anything else in the world.
It is a moment of welcome, of celebration and of acknowledgement. The home crowd roars in delight knowing the Olympic Games are coming. The athletes applaud the crowd and then each other; they all know what it takes to

Yusra MARDINI

Swimming - DSV Olympic Qualification - Europa Sportpark, Berlin, Germany - April 17, 2021  Yusra Mardini after qualifying for the Olympics REUTERS/Annegret Hilse

Yusra Mardini Berlin April 2021

Why Yusra Mardini's story should inspire the world

No one knows better than Luna Solomon the transformative power of sport.
When she arrived in Switzerland in 2015 after fleeing her native Eritrea, Solomon had never heard of sport shooting before.
In fact, she didn’t even seek the sport out.
The 27-year-old was guided towards the discipline by Niccolo

Luna SOLOMON

Luna Solomon: The refugee shooter taking aim at change for Tokyo 2020

When the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 officially open on 23 July 2021 at the Tokyo National Stadium, the IOC Refugee Olympic Team (EOR, from the French Équipe olympique des réfugiés) will be represented at the Games for a second time.
After the Rio 2016 Games, the world's leading athletes who

22423037_Refugee Team_T2020_IOCAnnouncement_Trl_Version3_00-01-06-24

How to support the IOC Refugee Olympic Team members

Iraqi refugee wrestler Aker Al Obaidi fled war when he was 14 and found a new home in Austria. The 21-year-old, who made the IOC Olympic Refugee Team for Tokyo 2020, explains how sports helped him overcome his fears: "It is important to get rid of this negativity through sports," he said.

Aker AL OBAIDI

2762107200016683007.jpg

Aker Al Obaidi: Every refugee should have a goal

nspired by fellow refugee Lopez Lomong, IOC Refugee Olympic Team member Jamal Abdelmaji Eisa Mohammed is aiming high in his Olymic debut at Tokyo 2020. "I'm not just going to just show up, I'm going to represent for real," he tell us. Jamal hopes to serve as a source of inspiration for other displaced people around the world.

Jamal ABDELMAJI

04 Jamal Abdelmaji Eisa Mohammed VOD thumbnail

Refugee athlete Jamal Abdelmaji Eisa: Running with a purpose

After winning bronze at Rio 2016, Kimia Alizadeh Zenozi left Iran in pursuit of freedom. The Germany-based refugee will get another shot at an Olympic medal after being selected to the IOC Refugee Olympic Team for the Tokyo 2020 Games in 2021. Hear more of her inspiring story.

Kimia ALIZADEH

Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin of Iran in the Women's 63-kg Taekwondo

Taekwondo medallist Kimia Alizadeh Zenozi gets another chance at Olympic glory 

As part of our series of exclusive interviews bringing together members of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team Tokyo 2020 with personalities from the world of sport, film, and entertainment. The series highlights the incredible journeys of the Olympic refugee athletes and provides new perspectives on refugees' stories, and raises awareness of sport's power to help displaced people rebuild their lives.

OLYDAY21STS01E15_1625676378626.jpeg

In Conversation: Anjelina & Nomzamo

Dorian Keletela found safety in Portugal as a refugee after fleeing Congo. Athletics gave him the chance to settle. Now his sight is set on his debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games in 2021, representing refugees around the world and fulfilling a childhood dream.

PXL_20210513_165106315

"Athletics changed my life" - Congo-born refugee athlete Dorian Keletela on his Olympic selection

The hardship of being a refugee led IOC Refugee Olympic Team weightlifter Cyrille Tchatchet II to pursue a career in mental health nursing. The British champion and national record holder is now looking forward to competing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games to represent all refugees around the world.

Cyrille Tchatchet II fled the Cameroon team camp after finishing fifth at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Cyrille Tchatchet II: From suffering depression to becoming a mental health nurse

On Olympic Day and one month from Tokyo 2020, we are launching ‘In Conversation’, a series of exclusive interviews bringing together members of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team Tokyo 2020 with personalities from the world of sport, film and entertainment. The series highlight the incredible journeys of the Olympic refugee athletes and provide new perspectives on refugees’ stories and raise awareness of the power of sport to help displaced people rebuild their lives.

Swimming

YUSRA_1624455325511.jpeg

In conversation: Yusra & Katie

The IOC Refugee Olympic Team for Tokyo2020 will feature 29 athletes across 12 sports. Learn more about all of these athletes.

Thumbnail

Meet the members of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team

After fleeing Iran in 2015, Dina Pouryounes relied on her passion for taekwondo to help her overcome the struggles of being a refugee. She is now training hard in her new home, the Netherlands, to achieve her dream of winning a medal at the Olympics in Tokyo.

Dina POURYOUNES LANGEROUDI

Dina Pouryounes used taekwondo to rebuild her mental and physical health after becoming a refugee in 2015.

Refugee taekwondo athlete Dina Pouryounes Langeroudi: "Sport gave my life a goal"

Refugee judoka Popole Misenga was one of the athletes of the first ever Refugee Olympic Team in Rio. Now for this second Olympics in Tokyo, and the first one as a father, he is working hard to improve his technique and to inspire his family and refugees around the world to pursue their dreams.

Popole MISENGA

Popole Misenga

Sport became essential for refugee judoka Popole Misenga's well-being after fleeing his country

The IOC Refugee Olympic Team will be represented at the Olympics for a second time in July 2021 when the Tokyo 2020 Games get underway after a year's delay.
It was first announced in 2015 and made its debut at the Olympic Games Rio 2016.
Some 29 athletes will be