For thousands of young refugees around the world, sport represents much more than competition—it is an opportunity to rebuild their identity, find stability, and prove that talent can flourish even in the most difficult circumstances. At Dakar 2026, that reality will come to life through a historic milestone: for the first time, a Refugee Olympic Team will compete at the Youth Olympic Games, bringing to the track stories defined by resilience, determination, and hope.
The protagonists of this new chapter are Clement Niyomuhoza, Florence Masumbe, Nyataba Gatloth, and Rachid Rochene, four young athletes selected to compete in the 200m and 800m events. Having emerged from development programs in Kenya and Uganda, they will represent not only their respective disciplines but also millions of displaced people who see in them proof that sport can become a pathway to new opportunities.
From Refuge to the Track: A Journey Built on Opportunity
The project taking these athletes to Senegal is the result of years of collaboration between the International Olympic Committee, the Olympic Refuge Foundation, Olympic Solidarity, World Athletics, and several organizations dedicated to supporting the athletic development of displaced young people. In Uganda, for example, many of the selected athletes were identified through Game Connect, a community-based program designed to discover talented refugee athletes and support both their sporting and personal development.
The growth of this initiative marks an important step in the evolution of sport as a tool for inclusion. For the first time, community programs led by the Olympic Refuge Foundation are directly connected to elite athlete development, allowing young people who began training in refugee settlements to aspire to compete at one of the world’s most important multi-sport events. In the coming weeks, the athletes will continue their preparations at a training camp in Kaptagat, Kenya, where they will train alongside other refugee athletes hoping to qualify for the Refugee Olympic Team at Los Angeles 2028.
Yiech Pur Biel: Proof That Sport Can Change a Life
Leading this historic delegation is Yiech Pur Biel, Head of Mission for the Refugee Olympic Team at Dakar 2026 and one of the movement’s most recognizable figures. His personal story mirrors the same journey these young athletes are following today. Originally from South Sudan, he spent part of his childhood in the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya before becoming one of the members of the first Refugee Olympic Team at Rio 2016.
Ten years after that historic appearance, Biel says sport completely transformed his life. In addition to becoming a member of the International Olympic Committee and a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, he now works to ensure that future generations receive the same opportunities he was given. His message to the athletes heading to Dakar goes beyond sporting results: representing millions of young refugees means showing that talent, discipline, and perseverance can open doors even after displacement, turning every race into a story of resilience that inspires far beyond the finish line.
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