Popole Misenga, a refugee and judo athlete from the Democratic Republic of Congo, made the cut for the first Olympic team of refugee athletes. The members of the first ever Olympic refugee team include athletes from South Sudan, Syria, Congo and Ethiopia who will compete in track and field, swimming and judo. “We’re convinced this refugee Olympic team can send a symbol of hope to all refugees in the world,” IOC President Thomas Bach said at the close of a three-day IOC executive board meeting in Lausanne. The team of six men and four women will march together behind the Olympic flag in the opening ceremony in Rio’s Maracana stadium on Aug. 5. Article Continued BelowOfficially called the Refugee Olympic Team (ROT), the athletes will walk into the opening ceremony just ahead of the huge team from Brazil, the host nation that marches last in the parade of athletes from more than 200 countries.

Source: thestar June 03, 2016 15:56 UTC