Britain's refugee sporting heroes shine at Euros and Olympics

- Charities commend refugee contributions to British sport for
Refugee Week 2012 -

Refugees are making outstanding contributions to British sport, a coalition of refugee
and human rights agencies* says today, as those who have fled persecution
compete in international events Euro 2012 and the Olympics this summer.

Tonight Tottenham Hotspur’s Luka Modric plays for Croatia in Euro 2012, and in a
few weeks Team GB’s star basketball player Luol Deng will compete for Britain in the
Olympics. Along with others like the nation’s favourite, Fabrice Muamba who has
played for Arsenal and Bolton Wanderers, these are just some of the refugees who
have become Britain’s sporting heroes in recent years.

As Refugee Week 2012 kicks off today with over 500 events nationwide, the Refugee
Week partners* (including Amnesty, the British Red Cross, UNHCR, and the Refugee
Council) are today publishing a list of outstanding contributions to British sport by
refugees in advance of World Refugee Day on Wednesday :

- Luol Deng, a refugee from Sudan is a key player in this year’s British Olympic
basketball team. He plays for the Chicago Bulls and is Barack Obama’s favourite
basketball star. Deng fled Sudan with his family as a child, and grew up in Brixton,
London, and is now a British citizen.

- Fabrice Muamba, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who fled
political persecution with his family, and was given safety in the UK, aged 11. He
played for Arsenal and more recently, Bolton Wanderers.

- Luka Modric, who plays for Tottenham Hotspur, is a refugee who is currently
playing for his home country Croatia in Euro 2012.

- “Scottish Wayne Rooney” Islam Feruz, came here as a child refugee from
Somalia and plays for Chelsea’s youth team. He has been selected as the youngest
ever player for Scotland Under 21s.

- Abdifatah Dhuhulow arrived as a refugee in 1998 from Somalia, and since
having his leg amputated following war injuries, has competed in the British Open
Championships, completed the London Marathon in just over 3 hours, and been
presented with a ‘Heroes of Running’ Award by Dame Kelly Holmes.

- Lomana LuaLua, was a striker for Blackpool. He fled from Kinshansa,
Democratic Republic of Congo as a child.

- Mario Stanic is a former footballer with Chelsea who fled Sarajevo during the
Bosnian war.

- Christopher Wreh who played for Arsenal, was a refugee from Liberia.

- Czech Holocaust survivor Ben Helfgott represented Great Britain at the 1956
and 1960 Olympic Games as a weightlifter.

- Walter Herz, a Czech refugee who fled Europe during WWII, designed the
famous official poster for the 1948 Olympic Games in London.

- German Jewish refugee, Ludwig Guttman, fled Nazi Germany and held the first
sporting event for disabled people in Buckinghamshire in the 1940s that would later
become the Paralympics. In 1956 he was awarded the Fearnley Cup, an award for
outstanding contribution to the Olympic ideal.

Speaking of this year’s games, LOCOG chair, Seb Coe said: "The Olympic
Games are not only a celebration of excellence, but also of friendship. Let's open up
our team to refugees across the globe!”

Almir Koldzic, Head of Refugee Week said: “As people come together to support
Team GB this summer, we will be cheering for the refugees who are making a huge
contribution to British sport. People like Luol Deng and Fabrice Muamba are national
sporting heroes, and show how refugees who have been given sanctuary here make
a massive contribution to British culture.

“But it is also the unsung heroes of the Olympics, refugees working behind the
scenes to make it happen, and refugees who make everyday contributions in their
communities around the UK, that we are celebrating this Refugee Week. Others can
do the same by going along to a Refugee Week event and finding out more about
what refugees are doing for us.”

A number of refugees are also contributing to the London 2012 Olympic Games,
many from behind the scenes:

Téa Hodzic was a successful musician in Bosnia, before she escaped the war in the
early ‘90s. She has rebuilt her career in the UK and will perform at the Olympic
Games’ opening ceremony.

Cynthia Masiyiwa, a refugee from Zimbabwe helped campaign to ensure Londoners
working at the Games would get the London living wage and helped 60 young people
secure jobs at the Olympics. She said: “I’m very excited about the Olympics coming
to London, and the opportunity to be involved in such a big sporting spectacle. I’ve
been working with young people to help them secure jobs in the Olympics too – it is
great that we can all be involved to make it happen together.”

Luka Phiri fled Zimbabwe in 2003. He is now a civil engineering student and will be
part of the Olympic support team during the Olympic Games. He said: “I feel
honoured to be involved in the Olympics. It is such a great opportunity for me and
many other refugees from different countries around the world who are also part of
the Olympic team - cleaners, performers, athletes, working so hard to make it all
happen. Refugees have so many skills to offer, and they should be given more
opportunities like this to contribute to national events and life in the UK. I love
athletics, and I’ll be supporting Team GB and the Zimbabwean team.”

Kolbassia fled from Africa, and since being in the UK has learnt English, gained a
Masters degree, and now works for the charity Freedom from Torture. As a
Trailblazer volunteer, he has worked on preparations for London 2012, and will be a
Games Maker in the Basketball Arena for the Olympics. “When London was chosen
as the host city for 2012 I was really excited because I didn’t have the opportunity in
my home country to be in a city where there would be a major tournament taking
place. I thought it would be a dream to be part of it and I wanted to be able to say
that I was one of the people who did something towards this massive event. I’m really
excited – I love sport. During the last Olympics I watched everything – cycling, boxing,
rowing – whatever I could!

This Refugee Week people across the country are celebrating both the major and
everyday contributions of refugees to the sporting, cultural and business life of Britain
through attending over 500 events nationwide. Key events include:
- Celebrating Sanctuary, world music festival, Southbank, London, 17 June
- Refugee Week Scotland Opening Concert, Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow, 18
June

- Casablanca at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 22 June
- Refugee House, experiential art exhibition, St. Fagans National History
Museum, Cardiff, all week

For more information visit: www.refugeeweek.org.uk or on Twitter at #RefugeeWeek.

ENDS

For further information contact:
Refugee Council: Philippa McIntyre, Media Officer, 07956 636 219, 020 7346 1214.
[email protected]
UNHCR: Laura Padoan, External Affairs Associate, 020 7759 8092, 077 5566127,
[email protected]

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: Refugees from countries around the world will gather to
make Olympic poses dressed in sports gear to kick off Refugee Week celebrations.
Come to the Celebrating Sanctuary Festival in Bernie Spain Gardens on the
Southbank at 12pm on Sunday 17 June.
CASE STUDIES AVAILABLE: We have a range of case studies of refugees who will
be contributing to the Olympics this year available for interview, with accompanying
photos.

About Refugee Week:
Refugee Week is a UK-wide programme of arts, cultural and educational events that
celebrate the contribution of refugees to the UK, and encourages a better
understanding between communities. Refugee Week 2012 takes place from 18-24
June 2012. www.refugeeweek.org.uk

*Refugee Week is a multi-agency project, and partner agencies currently include:
Amnesty International UK, British Red Cross, United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR), The Children's Society, Refugee Action, Refugee Council, City
of Sanctuary, Scottish Refugee Council, STAR (Student Action for Refugees), Welsh
Refugee Council, Freedom From Torture, and British Future.