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UN SECRETARY-GENERAL PRAISES IOC FOR REFUGEE OLYMPIC TEAMSpeaking at the UN General Assembly during the Summit for Refugees and Migrants, the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, thanked the IOC for the Refugee Olympic Team, which took part in the Olympic Games Rio 2016. The idea for the Refugee Olympic Team had been announced by IOC President Thomas Bach at the UN General Assembly in New York (USA) a year earlier in 2015.The team of 10 refugee athletes participated alongside 11,000 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees (NOCs). The participation of the Refugee Olympic Team sent a strong message of solidarity and hope to the millions of refugees around the world.In a speech at the High Level Meeting on Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants, President Bach gave further details of how the IOC will continue to support the members of the Refugee Olympic Team and develop more wide-reaching plans to use sport to help refugees and migrants.Reflecting on the Olympic Games Rio 2016, President Bach reminded member states that the Refugee Olympic Team “showed us all that despite the unimaginable tragedies and suffering that they have faced, anyone can contribute to society through their talent, skills and, most importantly, through the strength of the human spirit. Their participation in the Olympic Games is proof that refugees are an enrichment to society just as they are an enrichment to our Olympic family”.Below Tegla Loroupe (left) and Jacques RoggePRESIDENT BACH AND MEMBERS OF REFUGEE OLYMPIC TEAM TAKE PART IN UN HUMAN RIGHTS EVENTIn September, IOC President Thomas Bach joined members of the Refugee Olympic Team at the United Nations (UN) in Geneva (Switzerland). Sitting alongside Tegla Loroupe, the three-time Olympian and Chef de Mission of the Refugee Olympic Team from Kenya, and 800m runner Rose Lokonyen, he participated in a meeting that took place during the UN Human Rights Council.Joined by IOC Honorary President Jacques Rogge, who is the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Youth Refugees and Sport, President Bach told the meeting that the Refugee Olympic Team at the Olympic Games Rio 2016 “had provided a much-needed opportunity for the world to think differently about refugees and migrants in the light of the current crises and beyond”.The event was organised by the Permanent Mission of Greece to the UN Office in Geneva with the IOC and looked at “sport and integration” and “the promotion of human rights for refugees and migrants”.Top UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Yusra Mardini at the Summit for Refugees and Migrants at the UN General AssemblyAbove Yiech Pur Biel and Mardini from the Refugee Olympic TeamOLYMPIC REVIEW 13