In a world marked by conflicts, humanitarian crises and the steady rise in displaced people, sport continues to be a tool capable of opening opportunities, rebuilding connections and restoring hope. During 2025, the Olympic Refuge Foundation reached more than 33,000 young people in different parts of the world, providing access to sports programs and safe spaces where they can grow, share experiences and find a sense of normality amid difficult circumstances.

The Foundation’s work expanded across all five continents and also included the training of more than 1,600 coaches, strengthening support networks in communities, camps and cities affected by displacement. These advances were reviewed this week during the organization’s annual Board meeting in Lausanne, where its members reaffirmed their commitment to continue supporting displaced young people in 2026, especially in an international context marked by geopolitical instability and declining humanitarian resources.

Programs aimed at restoring opportunities for displaced young people

The 2025 Annual Activities Report of the Olympic Refuge Foundation details a series of initiatives carried out in different countries and regions. Among them are Game Connect in Uganda, SPiRiT in Bangladesh and Sport Coach+ across Europe, programs that have enabled thousands of children and young people to access sports activities, support and spaces for integration in environments often marked by violence, uncertainty and lack of resources.

In addition to expanding access to sport, the Foundation also advanced preparations for the first Youth Refugee Olympic Team ahead of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. During 2025, a total of 33 young refugee athletes received support to train and compete, while another 47 adult athletes were supported through Olympic Solidarity in their preparation for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Behind these figures are stories of resilience and young people who find in sport a real opportunity to imagine a different future.

The challenge of keeping displacement crises visible

The Board meeting, led by IOC President Kirsty Coventry, IOC Honorary President and Foundation Chair Thomas Bach, and former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, highlighted the growing concern over the future of displaced people. The meeting had originally been scheduled to take place in Amman, but plans had to change due to conflicts in the region, a reminder of how quickly crises can emerge and force thousands of people to leave their homes.

During the meeting, Thomas Bach warned that the refugee crisis will not diminish in the coming years, but that it does risk losing visibility at the international level. For that reason, the Foundation is seeking to broaden its reach and strengthen partnerships with organizations such as UNHCR, while continuing to promote initiatives such as the Sport for Refugees Coalition, which already brings together more than 170 members worldwide and has helped provide access to sport for more than 529,000 people affected by displacement since 2023.