They will form a team unlike any other that has competed in the Olympic Game before. The 10 refugee athletes set to compete at Rio 2016 were announced by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Friday (3 June), giving hope to people displaced by war and social unrest all over the world.

Five runners from South Sudan, two swimmers from Syria, two judokas from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a marathon runner from Ethiopia will march under the Olympic flag at the opening ceremony on 5 August at the Maracanã Stadium.

Brazil to welcome refigee team 'with open arms'

Syrian swimmer Yusra Mardini has been helped by the German Olympic Committee (Photo: IOC)

IOC president Thomas Bach said their inclusion would bring global attention to the magnitude of the refugee crisis and send a message to the world. “It is a signal to the international community that refugees are our fellow human beings and are an enrichment to society,” he said. “These refugee athletes will show the world that despite the unimaginable tragedies that they have faced, anyone can contribute to society through their talent, skills and strength of the human spirit.”

The 10 athletes, who include two Congolese judokas who are based in Brazil, will stay at the Olympic Village, where they will receive an official welcome, just like any other national team. The IOC will provide a full support group to provide all their logistical, technical and coaching needs.

Congolese judokas Yolande Mabika and Popole Misenga are based in Brazil (Photo: IOC)

The athletes who will form the Refugee Olympic Team (ROT) are:

• Rami Anis (male): Country of origin – Syria; host NOC – Belgium; sport – swimming
• Yiech Pur Biel (male): Country of origin – South Sudan; host NOC – Kenya; sport – athletics, (800m)
• James Nyang Chiengjiek (male): Country of origin – South Sudan; host NOC – Kenya; sport – athletics (400m)
• Yonas Kinde (male): Country of origin – Ethiopia; host NOC – Luxembourg; sport – athletics (marathon)
• Anjelina Nada Lohalith (female): Country of origin – South Sudan; host NOC – Kenya; sport – athletics (1500m)
• Rose Nathike Lokonyen (female): Country of origin – South Sudan; host NOC – Kenya; sport – athletics (800m)
• Paulo Amotun Lokoro (male): Country of origin – South Sudan; host NOC – Kenya; sport – athletics (1500m)
• Yolande Bukasa Mabika (female): Country of origin – Democratic Republic of the Congo; host NOC – Brazil; sport – judo, (70kg)
• Yusra Mardini (female): Country of origin – Syria; host NOC – Germany; sport – swimming
• Popole Misenga (male): Country of origin – Democratic Republic of the Congo; host NOC – Brazil; sport – judo (-90kg)

See biographies of each athlete

Olympian and former marathon world record-holder Tegla Loroupe  of Kenya will be the team’s chef de mission, while Brazilian Isabela Mazão, who was proposed by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), will act as the deputy chef de mission. They will lead a crew of five coaches and five other team officials.

Ethiopian marathon runner Yonas Kinde trains in Luxembourg (Photo:Rio 2016)

Syrian refugee calls for peace after carring Olympic torch in Athens

Speaking at a press conference at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, Bach said the athletes had been selected based on two criteria: recognition by UNHCR and their sporting credentials. He gave the example of the five South Sudanese athletes from the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, who took part in a selection competition organised by the Kenyan Olympic Committee.  

Bach said the ultimate aim was for the refugee athletes to be fully integrated into their host nations. He said the IOC hoped a refugee team would not be necessary in the future, but left open the possibility that it would be continued in future Games.

South Sudanese runner James Nyang Chiengjiek has been looked after in Kenya (Photo: IOC)

“We owe great thanks to all these host NOCs because they were the ones who supported the athletes, provided the facilities and had them training with their own national teams,” Bach said. “We want to thank the NOCs of Germany, Belgium, Brazil, Kenya and Luxembourg for their great contribution to the success of the first ever refugee Olympic team.”

'I feel Brazilian,' says Syrian refugee who carried Olympic torch in Brasília

Rio 2016 refugee volunteers celebrate the Olympic spirit

South Sudanese runner Anjelina Nadai Lohalith is based in Kenya (Photo: IOC)