Refugee athletes compete at Senegal’s first Youth Olympics
For the first time, a refugee team is competing at the Youth Olympics in Senegal. The team, formed by the IOC and managed by the Olympic Refuge Foundation, includes athletes from Kenya and Uganda participating in judo, taekwondo, and track and field. They aim to demonstrate their talent and inspire hope despite their challenges.
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Refugee athletes from camps in Kenya and Uganda are competing at the Youth Olympics in Senegal, marking the first time a refugee team has taken part in this event.
The team was created by the International Olympic Committee and is managed by the Olympic Refuge Foundation. It includes athletes competing in judo, taekwondo, and track and field.
Sprinter Florence Masumbe expressed pride in representing her country and hopes to win medals, emphasizing that refugees have the talent to succeed. Judo athlete Arno Yafunga shared how training helped him avoid harmful situations in Nairobi and encouraged young refugees to pursue their dreams.
This marks the first Youth Olympics to feature a refugee team, following the debut of the Refugee Olympic Team at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.