Refugee Olympic Team at the 2020 Summer Olympics

Last updated
Refugee Olympic Team at the
2020 Summer Olympics
Olympic flag.svg
Individuals compete under the Olympic Flag
IOC code EOR
in Tokyo, Japan
July 23, 2021 (2021-07-23) – August 8, 2021 (2021-08-08)
Competitors29 in 12 sports
Flag bearers (opening) Yusra Mardini
Tachlowini Gabriyesos
Flag bearer (closing) Hamoon Derafshipour
Medals
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
0
Total
0
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)

The IOC Refugee Olympic Team competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan as independent Olympic participants.

Contents

A total of 29 athletes including 19 men and 10 women from 11 different nations competed in 12 different sports including athletics, badminton, boxing, canoeing, cycling, judo, karate, shooting, swimming, taekwondo, weightlifting and wrestling. The team included refugees from Afghanistan, Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Venezuela.

Background

The IOC code is the French acronym "EOR", which stands for Équipe olympique des réfugiés. [1] This was the second appearance of a refugee team in the summer Olympics, following the 2016 Summer Olympics. [2]

For the 2020 Games, the team included 29 athletes, up from 10 in the 2016 team. The team comprised athletes originating from 11 nations who currently reside and train across 13 host nations, supported by the IOC's Olympic Scholarships for Refugee Athletes program. [3]

At the parade of nations, the IOC Team, according to the Japanese script traditional order and English pronunciation Ai Ō Shī of IOC in Japanese, was the second to parade after Greece who traditionally parade first. [4]

Team selection

The team was selected on 8 June 2021. [1] [5]

AthleteCountry of originHost NOCSportEvent
Dorian Keletela Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg Congo Flag of Portugal (official).svg Portugal Athletics Men's 100 m
Rose Lokonyen Flag of South Sudan.svg South Sudan Flag of Kenya.svg Kenya Athletics Women's 800 m
James Chiengjiek Flag of South Sudan.svg South Sudan Flag of Kenya.svg Kenya Athletics Men's 800 m
Anjelina Lohalith Flag of South Sudan.svg South Sudan Flag of Kenya.svg Kenya Athletics Women's 1500 m
Paulo Amotun Lokoro Flag of South Sudan.svg South Sudan Flag of Kenya.svg Kenya Athletics Men's 1500 m
Jamal Abdelmaji Eisa Mohammed Flag of Sudan.svg Sudan Flag of Israel.svg Israel Athletics Men's 5000 m
Tachlowini Gabriyesos Flag of Eritrea.svg Eritrea Flag of Israel.svg Israel Athletics Men's marathon
Aram Mahmoud Flag of Syria (2025-).svg Syria Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands Badminton Men's singles
Wessam Salamana Flag of Syria (2025-).svg Syria Flag of Germany.svg Germany Boxing Men's light welterweight
Eldric Sella Flag of Venezuela.svg Venezuela Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Men's middleweight
Saeid Fazloula Flag of Iran.svg Iran Flag of Germany.svg Germany Canoeing Men's K-1 1000 m
Masomah Ali Zada Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg Afghanistan Flag of France.svg France Cycling Women's time trial
Ahmad Wais Flag of Syria (2025-).svg Syria Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Cycling Men's time trial
Sanda Aldass Flag of Syria (2025-).svg Syria Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands Judo Mixed team
Ahmad Alikaj Flag of Syria (2025-).svg Syria Flag of Germany.svg Germany Judo Mixed team
Muna Dahouk Flag of Syria (2025-).svg Syria Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands Judo Mixed team
Javad Mahjoub Flag of Iran.svg Iran Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Judo Mixed team
Popole Misenga Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg DR Congo Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil Judo Mixed team
Nigara Shaheen Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg Afghanistan Flag of Russia.svg Russia Judo Mixed team
Wael Shueb Flag of Syria (2025-).svg Syria Flag of Germany.svg Germany Karate Men's kata
Hamoon Derafshipour Flag of Iran.svg Iran Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Karate Men's kumite
Luna Solomon Flag of Eritrea.svg Eritrea Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Shooting Women's 10 m air rifle
Alaa Maso Flag of Syria (2025-).svg Syria Flag of Germany.svg Germany Swimming Men's 50 m freestyle
Yusra Mardini Flag of Syria (2025-).svg Syria Flag of Germany.svg Germany Swimming Women's 100 m butterfly
Dina Pouryounes Flag of Iran.svg Iran Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands Taekwondo Women's –49 kg
Kimia Alizadeh Flag of Iran.svg Iran Flag of Germany.svg Germany Taekwondo Women's –57 kg
Abdullah Sediqi Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg Afghanistan Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium Taekwondo Men's –68 kg
Cyrille Fagat Tchatchet II Flag of Cameroon.svg Cameroon Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Weightlifting Men's –96 kg
Aker Al-Obaidi Flag of Iraq.svg Iraq Flag of Austria.svg Austria Wrestling Men's freestyle –67 kg

Competitors

In total, 29 refugee athletes competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. [2]

SportMenWomenTotal
Athletics 527
Badminton 101
Boxing 202
Canoeing 101
Cycling 112
Judo 336
Karate 202
Shooting 011
Swimming 112
Taekwondo 123
Weightlifting 101
Wrestling 101
Total191029

Athletics

In total seven refugee athletes took part in the athletics events. [2]

Track & road events
Men
AthleteEventHeatQuarterfinalSemifinalFinal
ResultRankResultRankResultRankResultRank
Dorian Keletela 100 m 10.331 Q10.418Did not advance
James Nyang Chiengjiek 800 m 2:02.048Did not advance
Paulo Amotun Lokoro 1500 m 3:51.7813Did not advance
Jamal Abdelmaji Eisa Mohammed 5000 m 13.42.9813Did not advance
Tachlowini Gabriyesos Marathon 2:14:0216
Women
AthleteEventHeatSemifinalFinal
ResultRankResultRankResultRank
Rose Lokonyen 800 m 2:11.87 PB8Did not advance
Anjelina Lohalith 1500 m 4:31.65 PB14Did not advance

Badminton

In total one refugee athlete took part in the badminton events. [2]

Aram Mahmoud competed in the men's singles event after he received an invitation from the IOC. [6]

AthleteEventGroup stageEliminationQuarterfinalSemifinalFinal / BM
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
RankOpposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Rank
Aram Mahmoud Men's singles Flag of Indonesia.svg  Christie  (INA)
L (8–21, 14–21)
Flag of Singapore.svg  Loh  (SGP)
L (15–21, 12–21)
3Did not advance

Boxing

In total two refugee athletes took part in the boxing events. [2]

AthleteEventRound of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Rank
Wessam Salamana Men's lightweight Flag of Brazil.svg  Oliveira  (BRA)
L 0–5
Did not advance
Eldric Sella Men's middleweight Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Cedeño  (DOM)
LRSC
Did not advance
Key

Canoeing

In total one refugee athlete took part in the canoeing events. [2]

AthleteEventHeatsQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal
TimeRankTimeRankTimeRankTimeRank
Saeid Fazloula Men's K-1 1000 m 3:52.6314 QF3:52.6144Did not advance

Cycling

In total two refugee athletes took part in the cycling events. [2]

AthleteEventTimeRank
Ahmad Wais Men's time trial 1:08:40.4638
Masomah Ali Zada Women's time trial 44:04.3125

Judo

Javad Mahjoub Javad Mahjoub.jpg
Javad Mahjoub

In total six refugee athletes took part in the judo events. [2]

AthleteEventRound of 64Round of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsRepechageFinal / BM
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Rank
Ahmad Alikaj Men's −73 kg Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Makhmadbekov  (TJK)
L 00–10
Did not advance
Popole Misenga Men's −90 kg ByeFlag of Hungary.svg  Tóth  (HUN)
L 00–10
Did not advance
Javad Mahjoub Men's +100 kg Flag of Germany.svg  Frey  (GER)
W 01–00
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Krpálek  (CZE)
L 00–11
Did not advance
Sanda Aldass Women's −57 kg Flag of Serbia.svg  Perišić  (SRB)
L 00–10
Did not advance
Muna Dahouk Women's −63 kg Flag of Cuba (3-2).svg  del Toro  (CUB)
L 00–10
Did not advance
Nigara Shaheen Women's −70 kg Flag of Brazil.svg  Portela  (BRA)
L 00–10
Did not advance
Mixed
AthleteEventRound of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsRepechageFinal / BM
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Rank
Sanda Aldass
Ahmad Alikaj
Muna Dahouk
Javad Mahjoub
Popole Misenga
Nigara Shaheen
Team Flag of Germany.svg  Germany  (GER)
L 0–4
Did not advance

Karate

In total two refugee athletes took part in the karate events. [2]

Kumite
AthleteEventRound robinSemifinalsFinal
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
RankOpposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Rank
Hamoon Derafshipour Men's −67 kg Flag of France.svg  Da Costa  (FRA)
L 0–4
Flag of Venezuela (state).svg  Madera  (VEN)
W 9–3
Flag of Jordan (3-2).svg  Al-Masatfa  (JOR)
L 0–3
Flag of Latvia (3-2).svg  Kalniņš  (LAT)
W 5–3
3Did not advance5
Kata
AthleteEventElimination roundRanking roundFinal / BM
ScoreRankScoreRankOpposition
Result
Rank
Wael Shueb Men's kata 23.306Did not advance

Shooting

In total one refugee athlete took part in the shooting events. [2]

AthleteEventQualificationFinal
PointsRankPointsRank
Luna Solomon Women's 10 m air rifle 605.950Did not advance

Swimming

Yusra Mardini Yusra Mardini portrait.png
Yusra Mardini

In total two refugee athletes took part in the swimming events. [2]

AthleteEventHeatSemifinalFinal
TimeRankTimeRankTimeRank
Alaa Maso Men's 50 m freestyle 23.3044Did not advance
Yusra Mardini Women's 100 m butterfly 1:06.7833Did not advance

Taekwondo

Kimia Alizadeh Taekwondo at the 2016 Summer Olympics - Women 57g - 10.jpg
Kimia Alizadeh

In total three refugee athletes took part in the taekwondo events. [2]

AthleteEventQualificationRound of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsRepechageFinal / BM
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Rank
Abdullah Sediqi Men's −68 kg ByeFlag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Zhao S  (CHN)
L 20–22
Did not advance
Dina Pouryounes Women's −49 kg ByeFlag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Wu Jy  (CHN)
L 3–26 PTG
Did not advance
Kimia Alizadeh Women's −57 kg Flag of Iran.svg  Kiani  (IRI)
W 18–9
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Jones  (GBR)
W 16–12
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Zhou Lj  (CHN)
W 9–8
Russian Olympic Committee flag.png  Minina  (ROC)
L 3–10
ByeFlag of Turkey.svg  İlgün  (TUR)
L 6–8
5

Weightlifting

In total one refugee athlete took part in the weightlifting events. [2]

AthleteEventSnatchClean & jerkTotalRank
ResultRankResultRank
Cyrille Fagat Tchatchet II Men's −96 kg 155131951035010

Wrestling

In total one refugee athlete took part in the wrestling events. [2]

Key:

Greco-Roman
AthleteEventRound of 16QuarterfinalSemifinalRepechageFinal / BM
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Rank
Aker Al-Obaidi Men's −67 kg Flag of Tunisia.svg  Nasr  (TUN)
W 4–0 ST
Flag of Georgia.svg  Zoidze  (GEO)
L 0–4 ST
Did not advance8

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "29 refugee athletes to send a message of solidarity and hope to the world at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020" . Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Refugee Olympic Team (EOR)". Olympedia. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  3. "Why is there a Refugee Olympic Team?". International Rescue Committee . Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  4. "U.S., France, Japan to march last in 2020 Parade of Nations". The Japan Times. 4 December 2019. Archived from the original on 6 December 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  5. "IOC Refugee Olympic Team Tokyo 2020" (PDF). Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  6. "Aram Mahmoud Makes the Cut for Tokyo 2020". Badminton World Federation. 8 June 2021. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.