Team Refugee Representing Millions At Rio Olympics

By Adam Wallis, Senior Associate Partner, Lighthouse International

"Sport has the power to change the world! It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair."

- Nelson Mandela

Throughout history we've seen how sport can play a profound part in uniting a nation! From the great success of the South African 1995 Rugby World Cup, bringing together the entire country after decades of racial turmoil... To just feeling the palpable difference in people attitudes around the streets of London during the London Olympics...

While most Olympic teams have the backing of their home country they're representing, this year at Rio there is one team who are a little different! Check out this touching video below...

Team Refugee certainly don't have the backing of their home countries... in fact the very opposite. While other Olympians have been in grueling training for years... this team have been fleeing war, have had family killed and have indeed risked their own lives to get there... They don't represent a nation! They represent the millions of people displaced by conflict and the countless who've died in their pursuit of freedom.

Embed from Getty Images

While they may not be favoured to win many gold models this year, let's support the underdogs who represent humanity. 🙂 Do check out this 30min BBC program about the team and they journey they've walked to get to Rio 2016...

Share your support in the comments below...