The journey of refugee & migrant athletes: Olympics beyond borders

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games are currently underway, an event that brings together athletes who have dedicated years, even a lifetime, to compete with dignity and skill, representing their countries. However, did you know that many athletes have been forced to leave their homeland due to political reasons, gender issues, violence, and armed conflicts?

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Refugee Olympic Team, which will compete for the third time in the Olympic Games (OG), represents millions of people who have been forcibly displaced worldwide. According to UNHCR, it is estimated that by September 2023, around 114 million people will have been forced to leave their homes across the planet.

This team is composed of thirty-six athletes from 11 different countries, hosted by 15 National Olympic Committees, competing in 12 sports disciplines at the Paris 2024 Games as members of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team. Their participation in the OG not only highlights their ability to overcome difficulties but also sends an inspiring message to the millions of displaced people around the world. These athletes show us that despite adversity, it is possible to achieve extraordinary goals and keep hope alive.

It is crucial that, as missionaries, we maintain our solidarity with migrants and refugees amidst the current migration crisis, where tensions have led to border closures and stricter immigration policies. That is why these athletes inspire us to be models of welcome and compassion. They urge us to build bridges instead of raising fences and walls, to extend a hand instead of sending warships.

The presence of these refugee athletes at the Paris 2024 OG reminds us of the importance of offering opportunities and support to those who have experienced forced displacement. It invites us to be promoters of reconciliation and peace, to open our doors and hearts to those who have had to leave their homes in search of safety and a better life.

Pope Francis, in his letter for the 2024 World Day of Migrants and Refugees, reminds us that many migrants experience God as a traveling companion, guide, and anchor of salvation. They entrust themselves to Him before departing and turn to Him in times of need. In Him, they seek comfort in moments of despair. Thanks to Him, there are good Samaritans along the way. To Him, in prayer, they confide their hopes. "Imagine how many Bibles, Gospels, prayer books, and rosaries accompany migrants on their journeys through deserts, rivers, and seas, and across the borders of all continents," he says.

Journeying in solidarity

God, who walks with His people, also accompanies all migrants and refugees who carry with them their art, faith, traditions, skills, and even their love for sport. Their presence in our communities enriches our diversity and gives us the opportunity to practice hospitality, welcome, and service through love and charity, biblical values rooted in our faith.

In a world where immigration policies are becoming more restrictive and fences, barbed wire, and walls are being erected, it is even more crucial to show solidarity with migrants. We must be aware of the difficulties they face in their journey and be willing to extend a helping hand instead of adding more bricks to the walls. Hospitality is at the heart of our faith, and we must remember the biblical call to love the stranger as ourselves.

Solidarity with migrants involves not only offering them material and physical support but also providing them with a welcoming and safe environment where they can rebuild their lives. We must strive to understand their stories, listen to their voices, and respect their dignity as human beings. In doing so, we become true Samaritans, witnesses of our commitment to evangelical values.

In this time of rising tensions, where refugees and migrants are at the center of agendas, we must remember the words of Pope Francis, who invites us to see in the migrants of our time a living image of God's people on their way to the eternal homeland: "Their journeys full of hope remind us that we are citizens of heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ." May our actions reflect God's love and be a living testimony of our faith in action. May we see Christ Himself in every encounter with a migrant or refugee and respond with generosity and compassion.

How can we work to foster an environment of inclusion and support for refugee athletes in the Olympic Games and in society in general?

How can we reflect solidarity with migrants and refugees through our actions and prayers, in line with Pope Francis' message for the 2024 World Day of Migrants and Refugees?

References:
https://www.acnur.org/noticias/comunicados-de-prensa/el-equipo-olimpico-de-refugiados-del-coi-representara-mas-de-100-millones-de-personas-desplazadas
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/es/messages/migration/documents/20240524-world-migrants-day-2024.html

For more information: International Olympic Committee Refugee Olympic Team
https://olympics.com/en/olympic-refuge-foundation/refugee-team