NAIROBI, Kenya – The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) has officially unveiled the IOC Refugee Youth Athlete Team, a bold new chapter in the Olympic Refugee Program.
The announcement, shared on NOC-K’s social platforms, isn’t just about sports—it’s about resilience, hope, and rewriting the narrative for displaced youth.
The team includes nine athletes competing in athletics and five in judo, all currently training in Kakuma Refugee Camp, which will now serve as their official training base.
Yes, Kakuma—the same camp that has long been a symbol of humanitarian crisis—has transformed into a beacon of Olympic ambition.
And the clock is ticking toward Dakar 2026, the first-ever Olympic event to be hosted on African soil. For these young athletes, that’s not just a deadline—it’s a dream.
The initiative is a powerful collaboration between NOC-K, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). But this isn’t just about getting kids to the track or dojo—it’s a holistic support system, complete with coaches, physiotherapists, teachers, and safeguarding officers. Think of it as an Olympic village in motion, one that understands trauma but insists on triumph.
At the official launch, NOC-K President Paul Tergat and Secretary General Francis Mutuku personally welcomed the young athletes and their families, many of whom had traveled long distances just to witness this milestone moment.
And Tergat didn’t just shake hands—he shared a handwritten note with the team, drawing on his own journey from rural Kenya to Olympic stardom.
“I have been where you are before,” he wrote. “I remember having dreams as bold and ambitious, but yours is more special. You’re carrying dreams, and you’re a symbol of hope for all the refugees in the world.”
If that doesn’t make your heart swell, maybe this will: the launch comes just months after NOC-K rolled out the senior IOC Refugee Team aimed at Los Angeles 2028. Now, the spotlight is on the juniors, and the momentum is building.
With every stride, throw, and finish line, these young athletes won’t just be chasing medals—they’ll be flying the Refugee Olympic Team flag: a white banner of unity, determination, and the transformative power of sport.
