On the occasion of the opening of the Olympic Games in Rio on Friday 5 August, approximately 80 children had the chance to compete in classic athletics at the temporary accommodation site of Kara Tepe on Lesvos. As part of the Refugee Games organized in refugee sites around the world, the UNHCR Sub-Office of Lesvos with the support of the Municipality and the Federation of Athletics Associations in Mytilene organized athletics for children between 6 and 10 years old.
The Mayor of Lesvos Spyros Galinos opened the Refugee Games for children making specific reference to the spirit of Olympic Games that originated from Greece, while representing the Hellenic Olympic Athletes Association, Olympic winner of rhythmic gymnastics in Sydney Klelia Pantazi competed along with the children in track with hurdles and jumps. UNHCR Officer in Charge Astrid Castelein stated that ”The children competing today in Kara Tepe will have the pleasure to be looking at the athletes competing in Olympic Games as role models and get inspired, along with the other children around the world, because as you know there is a team of 10 refugees competing in the Olympic Games in Rio for the first time in the history of the games”.
Conveying a message of support and hope, the children joined their efforts with Rami and Yusra from Syria, Yolande and Popole from DRC, Paulo, Rose, Anjelina, James and Yiech from South Sudan, and Yonas from Ethiopia, who are competing for the first time as an Olympic Refugee Team. A group of tourists staying at Hotel Votsala in Lesvos with their children also participated in the event.
We wish good luck to all the athletes of the Olympic Games, and the Olympic Refugee Team #TeamRefugees!
We stand together #WithRefugees.
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