Thomas Mukoya/Reuters
These athletes have escaped wars, survived treacherous ocean crossings, and rebuilt their lives on new shores. Winning an Olympic gold medal should be a piece of cake.
Ten exceptional athletes who have left their war-torn countries as refugees will compete as part of the first Refugee Olympic Team (ROT) in the 2016 Rio Olympics. They will represent the Olympic flag in uniforms provided by the International Olympic Committee and reside in the Olympic Village along with the other teams.
"This will be a symbol of hope for all the refugees in our world, and will make the world better aware of the magnitude of this crisis," said IOC President Thomas Bach in a statement. "It is also a signal to the international community that refugees are our fellow human beings and are an enrichment to society. These refugee athletes will show the world that despite the unimaginable tragedies that they have faced, anyone can contribute to society through their talent, skills and strength of the human spirit."