Olympic Refuge Foundation Board Shows Support for Refugee Olympic Team at Dakar 2026.
The Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF) Board visited the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, where members celebrated the achievements of the Refugee Olympic Team and witnessed first-hand how sport is creating opportunities for displaced young people.
The visit brought together members of the ORF Board and International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry, who joined the team in Dakar to show their support for the six athletes making history as the first Refugee Olympic Team to compete at the Youth Olympic Games.
Throughout the Games, Board members followed the athletes’ performances, cheering them on and recognising the significance of their participation on African soil.
On 9 November, members were present at the Complexe Iba Mar Diop stadium to support Lourance during the taekwondo competition and Clement in the men’s 800m semi-finals.
Following the Board meeting, the delegation returned to the stadium to watch Florence Masumbe and Rachid Rochene make their appearances in the men’s and women’s 200m events on 10 November. They were also joined by two-time Olympic marathon champion and Refugee Olympic Team mentor Eliud Kipchoge, who has been guiding and encouraging the young athletes throughout their stay in Dakar.
The athletes — Arno, Clement, Florence, Lourance, Nyataba and Rachid — represent the opportunities that become possible when displaced young people are given access to sport, support and platforms to develop their talents.
Strengthening the Foundation’s Global Impact
Beyond supporting the athletes, the visit provided an opportunity for the ORF Board to review progress during the first year of its 2025–2030 strategy and consider its priorities for expanding the reach of sport-based initiatives.
In 2026, the Foundation supported 11 new initiatives across 16 countries on five continents, extending its work into new territories, including Senegal, Syria, Palestine and Zimbabwe.
Its Sport Coach+ programme also expanded into Africa, with training activities conducted in Kenya. Through its partnership with the Mayor’s Migration Council under the Global Cities Fund, the Foundation further strengthened its support for community sport initiatives in London, Lviv, Maipú, Nouakchott and Toronto.
These initiatives reflect the Foundation’s commitment to ensuring that refugees and displaced communities can access the benefits of sport, from grassroots participation to elite-level competition.
Sport as a Pathway to Rebuilding Lives
Through its Refugee Athlete Support programme, the ORF, working alongside Olympic Solidarity, National Olympic Committees and International Sports Federations, helps elite refugee athletes continue their sporting careers despite the challenges of displacement.
Eligible athletes must be recognised refugees in their host countries, as determined by UNHCR, and demonstrate an established level of achievement in their respective sports.
Established by the IOC, the Olympic Refuge Foundation works with local partners and coaches to create safe and inclusive sporting environments where displaced people can connect, rebuild confidence and regain a sense of belonging.
For young refugees whose lives have been disrupted by displacement, sport can provide more than physical activity. It offers an opportunity to develop friendships, discover their potential and regain a sense of stability and community.
The presence of the ORF Board and IOC President Kirsty Coventry in Dakar underscored the continued commitment of the Olympic Movement to supporting displaced athletes and communities through sport.
As the first Refugee Olympic Team at the Youth Olympic Games concludes its historic participation, the experience of the six young athletes stands as a powerful reminder that sporting opportunities can transcend borders and create pathways for a brighter future.
