Five
middle-distance runners from South Sudan, until recently living in
Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp, to take part in first-ever Refugee
Olympic Team.
Amid tears
of joy, farewell hugs and songs of encouragement a group of smiling
young refugee African athletes flew out of Nairobi today bound for
the Rio Olympics in Brazil and an appointment with history.
Five
middle-distance runners from South Sudan, until recently living in
Kakuma refugee camp, in Kenya’s inhospitable far north, were given
a rousing send-off from friends, fellow refugees and Kenyan
well-wishers. The five will join five others from Syria, Democratic
Republic of the Congo and Ethiopia to make history by taking part in
the first-ever Refugee Olympic Team.
“I feel
very excited. This is the first chance for the refugees to
participate in the Olympics and to give us hope, for us to encourage
the young generations of fellow refugees who are remaining in the
camps maybe to continue their talent,” Rose Nathike Lokonyen,
23, told UNHCR in an interview prior to departure.
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