Refugee Olympic Team Paris 2024: Watch & Engage

We Dare to Dream (2023)

The story of refugee athletes from Iran, Syria, South Sudan and Cameroon who swim, run and fight their way to opportunity and safety in host nations across the world. Spanning a breadth of backgrounds, personal stories and Olympic sports, the film reveals their lives and hopes as they train to compete on the world stage, showing the fire and the drive of young people forced to leave their families, homes and countries of birth to build new lives out of nothing.

• Refugee athletes featured: Kimia Alizadeh, Wael Fawaz Al-Farraj, Saeid Fazloula, Anjelina Nadai Lohalith, Cyrille Tchatchet
• Documentary now streaming on Peacock
• Runtime: 98 minutes

The Swimmers (2022)

Featuring UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, Yusra Mardini, The Swimmers is the story of two Syrian sisters who flee their war-torn home in Damascus, swim for hours in choppy Mediterranean seas to reach Greece as asylum seekers before going on to compete at the Rio Olympic Games.

• Refugee athlete featured: Yusra Mardini, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador
• Film based on a true story now streaming on Netflix
• Runtime: 134 minutes

Rise (2022)

After his family flees Nigeria to Greece, Giannis Antetokounmpo, must get drafted to the NBA to secure his family's future. Antetokounmpo is a two-time NBA MVP and first-time Olympian playing for the Greek Men's National Basketball Team in the Paris 2024 Games.

• Refugee athletes featured: Giannis, Thanasis, and Kostas Antetokounmpo
• Film based on a true story now streaming on Disney+
• Runtime: 111 minutes

Runner (2020)

A refugee marathon runner strives to raise his new country's flag at the Olympics showing that it is possible to endure severe hardship and still craft a meaningful life.

• Refugee athlete featured: Olympic marathon runner and U.S. Air Force veteran Guor Mading Maker
• Documentary film available at runnerdoc.com
• Runtime: 87 minutes

© Olympics.com

Taking Refuge: Target Tokyo (2020)

Original series by Olympic TV that follows three refugees on a brave journey to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Games in the air rifle competition. Along the way, they will be coached and mentored by three-time Olympic gold medalist Niccolo Campriani.

• Refugee athletes featured: Luna Solomon, Mahdi Yovari, Khaoula
• Six episode series available to stream on Olympics.com
• Runtime: 15 minutes per episode

© Olympics.com

Inspired By Sport: Rock Climbing (2020)

In this episode of the Inspired By Sport series Olympic rock climber, Kyra Condie, travels to Utah to experience how the challenge of rock climbing can bring personal transformation to four young women from Sudan, Chad and Iraq.

• Refugee athletes featured: Mwamini, Tabarak, Wamda
• Episode available to stream on Olympics.com
• Runtime: 13 minutes

Run (2020)

Filmed over three years and three continents, Run tells the story of exceptional human spirit and its ability to overcome.

• Refugee athletes featured: James Nyang Chiengjiek, Rose Nathike Lokonyen, Anjelina Nadai Lohalith, Gai Nyang Tap, Wiyuoi Puok Deng, Kadar Omar Abdullahi, Ahmed Bashir Farah, Matthew Lam Joar, Dominic Lokinyomo Lobalu, Gatkuoth Puok Thiep, Lydia Philip Mamun, Paulo Amotun Lokoro, Yiech Pur Biel, Ubaa Dinta Achato, Ukuk Otho’o Bul, Joseph Elia Ernesto, Josephine Tain Augustinho, Duol Charles Elijah
• Documentary available to stream on YouTube
• Runtime: 83 minutes

The Refugee Olympic Team competing at Paris 2024 is comprised of thirty-seven athletes from 11 different countries, hosted by 15 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and competing across 12 sports. Appearing at the Olympic Games for the third time, the IOC Refugee Olympic Team will represent the many millions of displaced people around the world.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said: “The Refugee Olympic Team should remind us of the resilience, courage and hopes of all those uprooted by war and persecution. These athletes represent what human beings can do, even in the face of extreme adversity. The team also reminds us that sport can be transformative for people whose lives have been disrupted in often harrowing circumstances. Transformative not just for Olympians, but for everyone. Sport can offer respite, an escape from daily worries, a sense of safety, a moment of enjoyment. It can give people the chance to heal physically and mentally, and become part of a community again.”

Read the full announcement of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team Paris 2024.

Learn more about the athletes, their journeys to the Olympics and the sports they are competing in.

The Refugee Paralympic Team competing at Paris 2024 is comprised of eight athletes based in six countries who will compete across six sports. Appearing at the Paralympic Games for the third time, the IPC Refugee Paralympic Team will represent the more than 120 million forcibly displaced people around the world.

Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said: “For a third consecutive Paralympics, a team of determined, inspirational refugee athletes will show the world just what they can achieve if given the chance. Refugees thrive when given the opportunity to use, develop and showcase their skills and talents, in sport and in many other walks of life. We at UNHCR are hugely grateful to the IPC as a key player in our growing international partnership to bring sport to refugees. Sport is vital to their mental and physical well-being, as well as their inclusion and integration with the communities that host them.” 

Read the full announcement of the IPC Refugee Paralympic Team Paris 2024.

Learn more about the athletes, their journeys to the Paralympics and the sports they are competing in.

UNHCR

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IOC Refugee Olympic Team

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USA for UNHCR

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