9-member refugee team to compete at Paris Paralympics

On Tuesday, July 9, the International Paralympic Committe (IPC) announced a nine-member refugee team for the upcoming Paralympics, scheduled to start from August 28 and conclude on September 8 in Paris.

The team comprises eight competitors and one guide runner, competing in various sports such as taekwondo, athletics, triathlon, power lifting, table tennis and wheelchair fencing.

After unveiling the contingent for the forthcoming Paralympics, the IPC president Andrew Parsons stated that the refugee squad gives 120 million forcibly displaced people worldwide a ray of hope.

“The world has more than 120 million forcibly displaced people worldwide. Many live in dire conditions. These athletes have persevered and shown incredible determination to get to Paris 2024 and give every refugee around the world hope,” Andrew Parsons was quoted as saying by The Hindu.

It’s worth noting that the Refugee Paralympic Team (RPT) will participate at the Paralympics under the IPC flag and be the first to enter the opening ceremony on August 28.

"For a third consecutive Paralympics, a team of determined, inspirational refugee athletes will show the world just what they can achieve if given the chance," said Filippo Grandi, The United Nations high commissioner for refugees.

"Refugees thrive when given the opportunity to use, develop and showcase their skills and talents, in sport and in many other walks of life,” he added.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) had two and six athletes to represent the Refugee Paralympic Team (RPT) at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, respectively.

The Opening Ceremony for the Paris Paralympics will be held on August 28 at Place de la Concorde in Paris.

The Refugee Paralympic Team (RPT) represents more than 120 million people around the world who have been forced to flee war, persecution, and human rights abuses. The Chef de Mission for the team is Nyasha Mharakurwa, who represented Zimbabwe in wheelchair tennis at the London Paralympic Games in 2012.

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Refugee Paralympic Team for Paris Paralympics 2024

Guillaume Junior Atangana and guide Donard Ndim Nyamjua (athletics), Salman Abbariki (athletics), Zakia Khudadadi (taekwondo), Hadi Hassanzada (taekwondo), Ibrahim Al Hussein (triathlon), Hadi Darvish (powerlifting), Sayed Amir Hossein Pour (table tennis), Amelio Castro Grueso (fencing).

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