The Paris Olympics will feature a unique team of 36 athletes from 11 countries, who have been granted scholarships by the International Olympic Committee. These athletes, selected from over 70 applicants, will not compete under the Olympic flag but instead under their own emblem, featuring a heart at its center surrounded by arrows. The team, known as EOR or Équipe Olympique des Réfugiés in French, is led by Masomah Ali Zada from Afghanistan as chef de mission.
Masomah Ali Zada emphasized the importance of having their own emblem for the refugees, stating that it gives them a sense of belonging and identity. The Refugee Team will participate in a range of sports including athletics, badminton, boxing, breaking, canoeing, cycling, judo, shooting, swimming, taekwondo, weightlifting and wrestling. The Paris Olympics are set to begin on July 24th.
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