The 28-year-old Makiba said: “People say refugees have no life, but we can show that refugees do what all people do”.
Advertisement
“I want to send them hugs and kisses”.
Rubbing tears from his eyes, the 24-year-old athlete delivered a message for his brothers: “If you can see me on television now, you can see that your brother is here in Brazil and alive and well”. That led to a suspension by USA Swimming and a voluntary check-in to a substance abuse treatment center to get “the help I need to better understand myself”, he said on Twitter.
The International Olympic Committee announced the selection of 10 refugees last month forming the first-ever Refugee Olympic Athletes team. The 10 are among the more than 59 million who have been forced to flee their homes to escape war or political persecution, according to the United Nations, Syrian swimmer Rami Anis, 25, a competitor in the 100-meter butterfly, escaped his homeland’s civil war with one bag.
Yolande Mabika, a judoka from Democratic Republic of the Congo, echoed that she’s living a dream of able to compete in Olympics after going through struggles for life.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Mardini said the team had a mission to represent “the biggest flag – which is all countries”.
This is the first chance for the refugees to participate in the Olympics and to give us hope, for us to encourage the young generations of fellow refugees who are remaining in the camps maybe to continue their talent, ” Rose Nathike Lokonyen, 23, told the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) prior to her departure.
Coach Geraldo Bernardes said the question of whether any of the refugee team could win a medal was immaterial.
“I had two hard years in Brazil”. This year, there are 42 Olympic sport disciplines in 306 events over the course of 19 days of competition that will yield 136 medals for women, 161 for men and nine mixed medals.
Advertisement
“But at least they [the toilets] don’t smell, the smell is good”, Rio (WI) Olympic Village Volunteer Kristie Falk said. “I hope all refugee athletes continue their training as the Olympic committee and the whole global society provide them the supports they need”. “Today I come out representing Refugees Olympic Team and everybody cheers for me”.
