Qatar Olympic Committee joins efforts to improve quality of life of young refugees through sport

Qatar Olympic Committee joins efforts to improve quality of life of young refugees through sport
Qatar's Olympic Committee will donate to support international efforts aiming to provide global assistance to the refugee crisis.
3 min read
11 July, 2017
Last summer, the first-ever Refugee Olympic Team competed at the Rio Olympics [AFP]

The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) says it will financially contribute to its international counterpart in support of initiatives aimed to provide global assistance to the refugee crisis.

"The Qatar Olympic Committee believes sport has the power to transform the lives of displaced and disadvantaged young people around the world," QOC President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani said on Monday.

"Sport spreads solidarity and hope, promotes a healthy lifestyle and brings communities together."

He added that his organisation was committed to supporting the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in their "valuable work" to improve the quality of life of young refugees around the world through sport.

"We share the belief that having a safe space to be able to practice and play sport is a basic human right and we hope that this contribution helps to promote sport as a tool for peace and inclusion in society, and has a positive impact on the lives of young people globally," Sheikh Joaan said.

The Qatar Olympic Committee believes sport has the power to transform the lives of displaced and disadvantaged young people around the world

On Sunday, IOC agreed to continue its support for refugees by getting them involved in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

"The IOC is discussing a potential Refugee Olympic Team for Tokyo 2020, and it is reinforcing its efforts with the United Nations, in particular with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in refugee camps around the world," the IOC said on its official website.

The United Nations' Refugee Agency (UNHCR) began its partnership with IOC more than 20 years ago, providing refugees with sports equipment and creating areas to play.

The cooperation with IOC has since continued over the years, with support for youth programmes in at least 20 countries and by widening the focus towards refugee education and healthcare.

Last summer in Rio de Janeiro, the IOC allowed a 10-member Refugee Olympic Team to compete at the Olympics for the first time.

Syrian refugee Yusra Mardini was one of two swimmers who represented the first-ever Refugee Olympic Team in Rio, together with two judokas, a marathoner and five medium-distance runners.

IOC President Thomas Bach described the team at the time as a "symbol of hope for all the refugees in our world", adding that it would "make the world better aware of the magnitude of this crisis".

"It is also a signal to the international community that refugees are our fellow human beings and are an enrichment to society," he added.

"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."