Olympic Refuge Foundation Board cheers on the Dakar 2026 Refugee Olympic Team

The Olympic Refuge Foundation Board's visit to Dakar was an opportunity not only to reflect on the Foundation's strategic priorities, but also to witness first-hand the impact of sport on the lives of displaced people. Throughout the week, Board members showed their support for the Refugee Olympic Team athletes, celebrating their achievements and sharing in the significance of their participation on African soil.

This support was reflected in the stands, where Board members cheered on Lourance in the taekwondo competition and 800m runner Clement in the athletics semi-finals on 9 November.

After the Board meeting, the members went to the Iba Mar Diop stadium to watch Florence and Rachid make their debuts in the 200m event. They were joined by double Olympic champion and Refugee Olympic Team mentor Eliud Kipchoge, who has been supporting and mentoring the team throughout their time in Dakar.

Watching the refugee athletes compete at the first Olympic event on African soil was a powerful reminder of what sport can offer displaced communities across the continent. Arno, Clement, Florence, Lourance, Nyataba and Rachid show what is possible when young, displaced people are given the opportunity to take part in sport and find a place to belong.

Reaching more communities around the world

2026 was a year of growth for the ORF with 11 new initiatives supported in 16 countries across 5 continents - including in new territories such as Senegal, Syria, Palestine and Zimbabwe.

The ORF’s Sport Coach+ programme expanded into Africa this year, with training sessions taking place in Kenya. By investing in the Global Cities Fund, in partnership with the Mayor’s Migration Council, the ORF sharpened its focus on cities, by supporting sport-based initiatives in London, Lviv, Maipú, Nouakchott and Toronto.

The Board members were inspired by the Refugee Olympic Team, and the ORF’s commitment was equally clear: refugees and displaced people, from community participants to elite athletes, must be able to benefit from sport.

Sport as a way to regather and rebuild

Through the Refugee Athlete Support programme, the ORF, with the support of Olympic Solidarity, National Olympic Committees and International Sports Federations, gives athletes the opportunity to continue their sports career despite their displacement.  

To be eligible for the programme, athletes must be elite competitors in their sport and recognised refugees in their host country, as determined by the UNHCR. Founded by the IOC, the ORF adapts sport to meet the realities of humanitarian crises. When forced displacement strips away the routines, community and sense of belonging that hold a young person's life together, sport can help them regather and rebuild. The ORF works alongside local partners and coaches to create safe places and initiatives where young people can play, connect and find the stability they need.