By The Herald Editorial Board
In true Olympic spirit, let’s hope the universal messages of the 2016 Games, and the athletes who embody those values, can help inspire humans across the globe to recognize that in the big picture, we are all on the same team.
The stirring Olympic opening ceremony in Rio on Friday acknowledged a world in crisis, and world with hope. It reminded us how athletic competition can help bridge the divide and forge friendships faster than any government.
“In this Olympic world, we see that the values of our shared humanity are stronger than the forces which want to divide us,” said Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, in his speech during the opening ceremony.
Reflecting the realities of today’s world in crisis, a team made up of refugees — the Refugee Olympic Team — will compete in the Olympics. The IOC selected 10 athletes from more than 40 based on athletic skills, verified refugee status and personal background.
“This will be a symbol of hope for all the refugees in our world, and will make the world better aware of the magnitude of this crisis. It is also a signal to the international community that refugees are our fellow human beings and are an enrichment to society,” Bach said.
The United Nations says that last year more than 65 million people were displaced from their homes around the world due to persecution, war, violence and human rights violations, CBS reported. Among those, 21 million are considered refugees. The largest group — nearly 5 million people — fled the war in Syria.
One of those Syrian refugees, Yusra Mardini, 18, was named to the Refugee Olympic Team as a swimmer. Just last year she was training in Damascus and professionally backed by the Syrian Olympic Committee. But more and more Mardini found herself in pools where roofs had been blown open by bombings, The Independent reported. Mardini and her sister Sarah eventually left Syria, travelling through Lebanon and Turkey before trying to reach Greece. Thirty minutes after setting off from Turkey, the motor on their boat, meant for six people but carrying 20, began to fail.
Mardini, her sister and two other strong swimmers jumped in the water to keep the boat from capsizing, and for three and a half hours pushed it through cold water, finally arriving on the Greek island of Lesbos. After time, Mardini and her sister settled in Berlin, Germany, a country that has given refuge to so many during this crisis.
“It was, like, quite hard just to think that you’re a swimmer and in the end you’re going to end up dying in the water,” Mardini said in a June interview with the IOC.
Mardini will compete in the women’s 100-meter butterfly and freestyle heats. It’s safe to say she and the other nine refugee athletes will have no shortage of people rooting for them.
“These refugee athletes will show the world that despite the unimaginable tragedies that they have faced, anyone can contribute to society through their talent, skills and strength of the human spirit,” Bach said.
“You had to flee from your homes because of violence, hunger, or just because you were different. … In this Olympic world … we welcome you as an enrichment to our unity and diversity.
“While we must remember that our common humanity unites us all as individuals, we must also — now more than ever — value and accept difference.”
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