MEDIA ADVISORY: Refugee Olympic Team at Rio 2016

To editors and correspondents:

On Friday 5 August, the Refugee Olympic Team will walk into the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and embark on an inspiring journey as the first refugee team in the history of the modern Olympic Games.

For journalists interested in covering this story, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is offering the following media materials:

1. A resources page for media professionals containing background info and fact sheets, details of the refugee athletes with accompanying photos and videos, media contacts, related social media links, plus a link to UNHCR’s #WithRefugees campaign http://www.unhcr.org/578e2b9c4
2. Photos and video materials of the athletes in Rio. To access these materials, please register for an account on media.unhcr.org. Once registered, all text, video and photos can be downloaded here: https://media.unhcr.org/olympics

Follow the Refugee Olympic Team on social media

The various #TeamRefugees fan club social accounts, managed in collaboration with partners, will share unique videos and photos following the Team’s journey to Rio and activities during the Olympic Games, as well as messages of support and the reaction of refugee communities across the world. Fans are encouraged to show their support for the Team in various ways, including by signing the #WithRefugees petition: www.withrefugees.org.
https://www.facebook.com/teamrefugees
https://twitter.com/TeamRefugees
https://www.instagram.com/teamrefugees
Snapchat: @teamrefugees

Sport and refugees

The UN Refugee Agency has long recognized the positive impact of sport when refugees are rebuilding their lives in a new country. Since 1994, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has worked with UNHCR in refugee camps and resettlement areas around the world. Projects include those that offer sporting activities for refugee children who have been forced to flee war and conflict. To bring the Rio Olympics closer to refugees who are living in camps around the world, UNHCR has organised Refugee “Games” in 15 different locations at the same time as the Olympic Games in Rio.  In 15 different countries – from Ecuador toJordan to Nepal – refugees will be competing in various sports; boxing, taekwondo, track and field and soccer.

For further information on this material, please contact:

• In Geneva, Nora Sturm: +41 79 200 76 18, [email protected]
• In Rio, Luiz Godinho: +55 61 9 8187 0978, [email protected]
• In Rio, Miguel Pachioni: +55 61 9 8117 5641, [email protected]