The inaugural Human Rights Spotlight Prize was presented to the refugee team at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at a ceremony in New York last week. The award recognizes organizations and individuals who inspire others through their commitment to human rights and impactful advocacy while elevating marginalized voices.
During Paris 2024, the IOC Refugee Olympic Team, made up of 37 athletes, hosted by 15 National Olympic Committees, competed in 12 events, showing the world that refugees are an asset to society. Accepting the award on behalf of the team, Olympic athlete, IOC member and member of the Board of Directors of the Olympic Asylum Foundation (ORF), Yie Pur Biel, reflected on the significance of the honor. "The purpose of this team, both then and now, is twofold. The first is to support refugee athletes to continue their athletic careers and compete on the world stage. Second, to bring attention to and change perceptions of the 120 million people around the world who have been forced to flee their homes like me. ”
Bill, who was part of the first refugee Olympic team to compete at Rio 2016, is proud to represent a group united under the Olympic flag. "Every athlete has a different story – they speak different languages, they have different cultures, they come from different countries. But they all gathered under one flag, and that was the Olympic flag. They are united by solidarity and love for sports," he explained. Bill also drew attention to the work of the Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF), which extends beyond the Olympics to support young people affected by displacement to develop through sport.
"When the lights go out, the stadium fills with people, and the crowd goes home, the Olympic Shelter Foundation continues to support nearly 500,000 displaced young people around the world through physical activity 365 days a year to improve their mental health and well-being and rediscover a sense of belonging in their new communities."
The IOC established the ORF to support refugees and displaced populations through sport. The Refugee Olympic Team will continue to serve as a symbol of hope for young people affected by displacement and the importance of enabling refugees to participate in sport as a basic human right. Bill's speech at the awards ceremony concluded with a call to action, urging continued support for refugee athletes and the importance of fostering a sense of belonging through sport.
Source: IOC official website