From Refugee Communities to the Olympic Stage: Africa’s Next Generation Is Making History.
What happens when sport becomes more than competition? When a running track becomes a pathway to opportunity, connection, confidence, and hope?
That is the story behind Game Connect, a sport-for-mental-health initiative of the Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF) supporting displaced young people and host communities in Uganda. The programme is implemented across Adjumani, Kampala, Kamwenge and Kyangwali, using sport as a platform to promote mental health, psychosocial well-being, social connection and inclusion. By bringing displaced and host communities together through sport, Game Connect reaches more than 10,000 young people, creating safe spaces where young people can connect, build confidence, develop life skills and strengthen their overall well-being.
It is within this broader vision of using sport to connect and empower young people that the journey of the Game Connect Refugee Team has unfolded, and today, that journey has reached a historic milestone.
The International Olympic Committee has unveiled the first-ever Refugee Olympic Team for the Youth Olympic Games, which will make its debut at Dakar 2026, the first Olympic sporting event to be held on African soil. Among those selected are two athletes based in Uganda: Florence Masembe, who will compete in the Women’s 200m, and Rachid Rochene, who will compete in the Men’s 200m.
Their selection is much bigger than two athletes making a team. It is a powerful reminder that circumstances do not have to define potential, and that sport can create pathways to opportunities that once seemed impossible.
For Florence and Rachid, the road to Dakar has been built through discipline, dedication, training and resilience. Their journey has included structured training at the Complete Sports Facility in Kaptagat, where sessions focused on stability, core strength and overall athletic development have formed part of their preparation.
The athletes also took another important step when the Game Connect Refugee Team travelled to Nairobi to participate in the ANOCA Zone V Games. Emmanuel Talipany competed in the 100m, while Rachid Rochene and Florence Masembe competed in the 200m. The Games provided valuable competition, exposure, and preparation as the athletes continued their journey towards Dakar.
Another memorable moment came with the official unveiling of the Dakar Refugee Team, where the athletes received their competition kits at the Complete Sports Facility in Kaptagat, Kenya. The occasion brought together representatives from the Olympic Refuge Foundation, Athletics Kenya, Kenya Olympic Committee, UNHCR, World Athletics, AVSI Uganda and the Uganda Olympic Committee, demonstrating the power of partnership in creating opportunities for young athletes affected by displacement.
For the Uganda Olympic Committee, this milestone represents more than participation at another international competition. It reflects the importance of creating an inclusive sporting environment where talent can be identified, nurtured and given opportunities to grow regardless of an athlete’s background.
It also demonstrates the impact of partnerships such as Game Connect and the Olympic Refuge Foundation, where sport is used not only as a pathway to competition but as a tool for connection, well-being, inclusion and empowerment.
And for Africa, this moment carries an even deeper significance.
Dakar 2026 will be historic as the first Olympic sporting event to take place on African soil. The debut of the Refugee Olympic Team adds another powerful layer to that history. It allows Africa to showcase the transformative power of sport and to tell a story of young people overcoming barriers, finding opportunity, and representing millions of others who share similar journeys.
This is a story of resilience. It is a story of inclusion. It is a story of opportunity.
Most importantly, it is a reminder that sport can build bridges between communities and create pathways for young people to dream beyond their circumstances.
As Chef de Mission Yiech Pur Biel stated, these young athletes have an opportunity to become great ambassadors and represent the millions of young refugees around the world.
Florence and Rachid now carry that responsibility, but they also carry something greater: the hopes and aspirations of young athletes who dare to believe that their dreams are possible.
From refugee communities in Uganda, through Game Connect, to training in Kaptagat, competition in Nairobi, and now the road to Dakar, this is more than an athletic journey.
It is history in motion.
