A Team of Refugees Will Compete in Summer Olympics

A team of refugees will compete in the Summer Olympics. A total of 43 athletes have been selected to potentially be a part of a team of Refugee Olympic Athletes (ROA) to compete under the Olympic flag this summer in Rio. “By welcoming ROA to the Olympic Games in Rio, we want to send a message of hope to all the refugees of the world,” said International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach. The team could contain between five and 10 athletes depending on “sporting qualifications,” according to Bach. As well as sporting ability, athletes will be selected based on personal circumstances and United Nations-verified refugee status. The athletes selected will receive financial support for training.