Cover image via gulfnewsSisters Yusra and Sarah Mardini from Syria, who swam across the Mediterranean sea to Lesbos, are hoping to join the Team Refugee Olympic, a new team set up by the International Olympic Council (IOC)
Yusra and Sarah fled their hometown of Damascus through a boat. The overloaded boat stopped due to engine failure, threatening to capsize. Yusra, Sarah and the other woman quickly jumped into the water and started pushing and pulling the boat to shore. They were the only ones who could swim.
Image via ABC
After making it to Lesbos, they started their month-long trek, living off food and clothes from strangers. Eventually, they made it to Germany and were introduced to a swimming club.
Image via AP
Shortly after arriving in Berlin, an Egyptian translator at their refugee shelter put them in touch with Wasserfreunde Spandau 04, a local swimming club, where they were introduced to coach Sven Spannekrebs.
Image via CNN
Aside from the Mardini sisters, martial artists Raheleh Asemani and Popole Misenga, who are from Iran and Congo respectively, are hoping for a chance to compete in Rio
Popole Misenga comes from a war-torn province in the Congo, Bukavu. His mother was killed and his brother disappeared during the five-year war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and its aftermath. To escape the fighting, he put everything he had into judo and sought asylum in Brazil.
A total of 43 stateless athletes from around the world are living and training in Germany. Only five to ten athletes will qualify for a spot in the team.
Of the 43 athletes selected as contenders for the team, more than half are runners from central and western Africa. Others are from Syria, Iran and Iraq.
Prompted by the plight of millions of migrants and refugees around the world, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is forming a small team of refugees who will be competing in the Rio Olympics under the Olympic flag
The refugee athletes will be living in the same Olympic Village with the other athletes. In the opening ceremony, the team will march ahead of the team from Brazil, behind the flag with Olympic rings.
The IOC will supply them with team uniforms, coaches and technical officials. The Olympic anthem will be played if any of the athletes wins a gold medal.
The plan was first announced by the IOC back in October last year amid the influx of refugees in Europe
Image via AWD News
