Athletes from 206 countries waved their national flags as boats carried them down Paris’ Seine river during the Olympic Opening Ceremony last week.
One boat carried 37 athletes wearing stark white sweat suits with no clear country affiliation. The riders excitedly waved flags emblazoned with the Olympic rings. They smiled and posed for photographers along the river, making hearts with their hands and cracking jokes with each other as they passed.
They are the IOC Olympic Refugee Team, made up of athletes from 11 different countries. The team debuted at the 2016 Rio Olympics and has grown consistently since then.
Gonzalo Barrio, the team’s manager, told NPR’s Morning Edition, “these are athletes who can no longer compete for their country of origin and who cannot yet compete for their new country.” This year’s team is made up of athletes from Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, Cameroon, Congo, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and more.
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