LAUSANNE: The International Olympic Committee on Thursday unveiled its largest refugee Olympic team to date for the Paris 2024 Games, with 36 athletes from 11 countries.

The athletes, from countries including Syria, Sudan, Iran and Afghanistan, will compete across 12 sports in Paris, the third time such a team has formed for the Summer Olympics.

“With your participation in the Olympic Games, you will demonstrate the human potential of resilience and excellence,” IOC president Thomas Bach said during the team’s announcement. “This will send a message of hope to the more than 100 million displaced people around the world.”

For the first time, the team will compete under its own emblem.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2024