The refugee athletes caught the eyes of the crowd because of waving ‘white’ flags.
The crowd turned their heads to the 10 refugee athletes who were allowed to join the competitions in Rio Olympics.
These players came from the countries South Sudan, Syria, Congo and Ethiopia, they will join the parade on the opening day coming Saturday, August 6, waving white Olympic flag.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently declared that they will be considered Refugee Olympic Team (ROT).
As part of the IOC’s pledge to aid potential elite athletes affected by the worldwide refugee crisis, the National Olympic Committees were asked to identify any refugee athlete with the potential to qualify for the Olympic Games Rio 2016. Such candidates could then receive funding from Olympic Solidarity to assist with their preparations and qualification efforts.
The ROT shall be composed of Syrian Yusra Mardini, who is based in Germany, and Rami Anis who lives in Belgium; South Sudanese runners Yiech Pur Biel (800 meters), James Nyang Chiengjiek (400), Anjelina Nada Lohalith (1,500), Rose Nathike Lokonyen (800) and Paulo Amotun Lokoro (1,500); Congolese judo athletes Yolande Bukasa Mabika (70-kilogram category) and Popole Misenga (90 kgs), who both lives and trained in Brazil; and the Ethiopian marathon runner, Yonas Kinde, who now lives in Luxembourg.
The head of their delegation is the three-time Olympian from Kenya, Tegla Loroupe.
Misenga was teary-eyed when he recalled that it has been 15 years since he left his family in Congo. But he still considers himself fortunate because he was able to pursue his passion in sports and has gone up to the Olympics. He also hopes that someday his family would be able to afford plane tickets and go to Brazil.
He was emotional, though, because he will not be able to wave his country’s flag but another.
“I will raise the Olympic flag, but I’m a little bit sad in my heart and mind because I cannot march under the flag of my country,” he said.
IOC Thomas Bach had earlier said that the team of the refugees symbolizes hope.
“We’re convinced this refugee Olympic team can send a symbol of hope to all refugees in the world”, said Bach. “It is also a signal to the international community that refugees are our fellow human beings and are an enrichment to society”.