UNHCR – Refugee Paralympians leave legacy of hope as Tokyo Games conclude

All six members of the IPC Refugee Paralympic Workforce collect in entrance of the Agitos symbols in Tokyo, Japan.   © Lucas Freitas/IPC

Because the Tokyo Video games drew to a detailed on Sunday, the Refugee Paralympians celebrated their achievements on the world stage, assured they’d despatched a message of hope and unity to the world’s 82.4 million displaced folks and the 12 million amongst them with disabilities.

“The entire occasion was an unbelievable expertise for me,” stated Alia Issa, the crew’s first lady who competed within the membership throw. “The refugee crew is not only any crew, it’s a household that’s making an attempt to unite all refugees around the globe.”

Typically referred to throughout the Video games as “probably the most brave sports activities crew,” the six-member Refugee Paralympic Workforce has overcome extra obstacles than most of their rivals simply to get to Tokyo, together with the usually traumatic expertise of escaping warfare or persecution and adjusting to life in a brand new tradition.

Their presence within the Paralympics helped draw consideration to the challenges dealing with displaced folks dwelling with disabilities, who’re at a better danger of violence, discrimination and abuse. They typically lack equal entry to fundamental providers, work, schooling and sporting actions.

Whereas they might not have received any medals, the crew’s perseverance was inspiring, prompting an outpouring of help from followers in Japan and around the globe. Tokyo faculty kids offered them with greater than 10,000 paper airplanes — a picture related to carrying a dream — and Japanese rock star MIYAVI, a Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Company, launched a music video with a brand new tune, “I Swear,” to photographs of the Paralympians coaching.

Their presence within the Video games was a victory for inclusion, stated Ricardo Pla Cordero, a safety officer for incapacity inclusion at UNHCR, which works with companions to leverage the facility of sport to rework the lives of the displaced.

“Simply being there, competing, was a lot extra vital than profitable or not profitable a medal,” Pla Cordero stated. “Having the fitting to be in Tokyo and compete with others is a further and vital achievement in direction of the complete recognition of refugees with disabilities as folks, athletes, and valued members of their communities.”

Two refugee groups made their debut on the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Video games in 2016, rising to a mixed 35 members in Tokyo, initially hailing from 12 nations, together with Syria, Iran, South Sudan and Afghanistan. This 12 months a Refugee Paralympic Workforce of six took half within the Paralympic Video games, following the inclusion of two refugee athletes within the Rio 2016 Video games beneath the banner of the Impartial Paralympic Athletes Workforce, whereas the primary Refugee Olympic Workforce of 10 members in Rio almost tripled to 29 in Tokyo.

The groups, created and supported by the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) and Worldwide Paralympic Committee (IPC) in partnership with UNHCR, give certified athletes who’ve been displaced, and are due to this fact unable to symbolize a nationwide crew, a chance to compete on the highest ranges of sport.

“An inspiration to all of us.”

UN Excessive Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi congratulated each groups for his or her glorious performances. “Their perseverance and expertise are really an inspiration to all of us,” he stated.

“I additionally need to categorical my profound gratitude to the IOC and the IPC for believing in refugees and setting the instance for others. By way of their efforts we’ve seen first-hand the large energy of sport in fostering a extra inclusive and equal world,” Grandi added.

“We sit up for future sporting occasions the place refugees, together with these with disabilities, can have the chance to compete, and symbolize the thousands and thousands of individuals around the globe who’ve been pressured to flee.”

As in any sporting occasion, there have been accomplishments to rejoice in addition to moments of disappointment. Abbas Karimi, born with out arms, superior to the finals of the S5 50-meter butterfly with a private better of 36.36 seconds.

Alia, whose mind was broken when she had a excessive fever as a younger little one, reached 16.33 meters within the membership throw, simply wanting her private greatest. Competing within the discus, Shahrad Nasajpour beat his greatest mark from 5 years in the past in Rio.

Anas Al Khalifa, who fled combating in Syria and now lives in Germany, positioned seventh within the kayak single KL1 class, a robust displaying after solely a 12 months of great coaching, and is the flagbearer for the Paralympics closing ceremony on Sunday.

Anas has restricted use of his legs after falling from a second story constructing whereas putting in photo voltaic panels. Sliding into despair after his accident, he stated kayaking modified his life.

“My physiotherapist actually pushed me laborious and confirmed me that sport was actually vital for my rehabilitation course of as a result of it provides you hope. It actually lifts you while you’re on the backside and the bottom level in your life,” he stated. “It was a approach of bringing me out of the darkness I used to be feeling.”

Parfait Hakizimana, a Burundian refugee who arrange a taekwondo membership within the Mahama Refugee Camp the place he lives in Rwanda, was thrilled to take part within the sport’s debut within the Paralympics. He was sadly injured throughout his first-round loss however noticed his presence on the crew as a method to “assist refugees around the globe see that their desires come true as effectively.”

Swimmer and two-time Paralympian Ibrahim Al Hussein, who misplaced his decrease proper leg in a bomb blast throughout combating in Syria, exuded enthusiasm all through. Affectionately known as the unofficial captain by teammates, Ibrahim was typically seen waving and smiling to folks on the road whereas using the bus to the pool. He thanked Japanese organizers for holding the Video games at a really difficult time throughout the pandemic.

“From the time we left from the Paralympic Village to the venues right here and seeing all of the native folks waving to us, it made us really feel heat and made me really feel actually comfortable,” he stated.

Members of each groups stated the expertise bolstered their confidence, and eagerly seemed ahead to carrying the momentum to Paris 2024 – simply three years away.

In cooperation with companions together with the IOC and IPC, UNHCR will proceed to advertise entry to sport in refugee camps and communities – areas that always lack sporting gear or organized sporting actions, significantly for these dwelling with disabilities. UNHCR sees sport as a strong software for constructing confidence and expertise, selling psychological and bodily well-being and bringing communities collectively.

The Refugee Company’s dedication to supporting refugees with disabilities goes hand-in-hand with the mission of the Paralympic Motion, which was launched by Sir Ludwig Guttmann as a method to repay the kindness he skilled as a refugee who fled Nazi Germany earlier than the Second World Warfare.

“We are going to proceed our work to create a world by which all displaced folks, together with these with disabilities, can equally entry and take part in sport,” stated Deanna Bitetti, a senior communications officer understanding of Tokyo.

Each the Olympics and Paralympics offered a chance for host nation Japan to advertise better consciousness about displaced folks.

Tokyo’s Bunkyo Ward, which served because the Refugee Paralympic Workforce’s host city, organized workshops for residents on the worldwide refugee disaster and held on-line periods with crew consultant Ileana Rodriguez, a former refugee from Cuba and now an American citizen.

Parfait additionally seems as a online game avatar in a sport launched by JPGames, the developer behind Pegasus Dream Tour, the official Paralympics online game. The sport additionally options Parfait’s spouse and little one as spectators.

RPT member Parfait Hakizimana’s taekwondo Avatar is featured within the Pegasus Dream Tour sport, developed by JP Video games.   © JP Video games

Refugee Olympians have been the principle characters in a guide with manga-like illustrations revealed by Japan’s Kadokawa Corp. Geared towards youth, the guide tells the tales of the hardships overcome by seven athletes who competed in Rio, together with swimmer Yusra Mardini, with maps of routes they took when fleeing their homelands. “Should you learn their tales, you can get braveness and hope,” the guide jacket says.

Assist got here from elsewhere, too. From the Cayman Islands, a gaggle of girls despatched handmade pins for members of each groups depicting UNHCR’s brand mixed with the Olympic or Paralympic symbols.

A card from the ladies, led by artist Deborah Kern and supported by Rachel Klein, stated they’d discovered that the refugee groups didn’t have a particular pin to put on, as many nationwide groups do. “We needed to be sure to all had particular pins of your personal,” they wrote. “Thanks for uplifting us!”

Sanda Aldas, a refugee Olympian initially from Syria who competed in judo, stated tears got here to her eyes when she entered the stadium throughout the Opening Ceremony as a result of she was overwhelmed by the concept of representing refugees in all places and since her mother and father had desired so deeply that she may compete within the Olympics.

“There’s all the time hope and do not cease dreaming,” Sanda tells fellow refugees. “Do not hearken to those that inform you that you just can’t attain your purpose — simply work laborious. It will not be simple however believing in your self could make all of your desires come true, not solely in sport however in life usually.

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