The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has announced that a team of refugee and asylee athletes will compete under the Paralympic flag as the Independent Paralympic Athletes (IPA) Team at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

The members of the team are set to be announced later this month ahead of the Paralympic Games opening ceremony on 7 September.

The athletes will enter the Maracanã under the flag carrying the official Paralympic symbol, the Agitos. The Paralympic anthem will also be played should they reach the podium, as well as at the village welcome ceremony.

For the first time, a special team of refugees competed in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games under the Olympic flag.

Just like the other national delegations, the IPA Team will be accompanied by an entourage of coaches, medical staff and other officials, all headed up by a chef de mission. Before arriving in Rio the team will undergo medical checks and receive anti-doping education.

During their time at the Games they will stay in the athletes’ village, alongside more than 4,300 athletes from around 160 countries.

Although para-athletes have competed as independents at the Paralympic Games in the past, this will be the first time that those with refugee and asylee status will receive special recognition.

The president of the IPC, Sir Philip Craven, said: "Given the current crisis in which millions of people around the world have been displaced, this is the moment to shine a light on the people with impairments affected, as well as highlight the broader situation.

“Through their performances those competing in the IPA team will stand for courage, determination, inspiration and equality on a global stage. They will show to the world what can be achieved by the strength of the human spirit.”

After the Paralympic Games, the IPC’s development organisation, the Agitos Foundation, will provide long-term support for the athletes.

National Paralympic Committees approached the IPC when they became aware of para-athletes who were refugees or asylees training in their countries. In order to compete in the IPA team in Rio, those nominated must have official refugee status verified by the United Nations and must also possess the relevant travel documentation.

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