After competing with pride and an outpouring of support from Japan and beyond, the Refugee Paralympic Team showcased the power of inclusion for displaced people with disabilities.
As the Tokyo Games drew to a close on Sunday, the Refugee Paralympians celebrated their achievements on the world stage, confident they had sent a message of hope and unity to the world’s 82.4 million displaced people and the 12 million among them with disabilities.
“The whole event was an incredible experience for me,” said Alia Issa, the team’s first woman who competed in the club throw. “The refugee team is not just any team, it is a family that is trying to unite all refugees around the world.”
Often referred to during the Games as “the most courageous sports team,” the six-member Refugee Paralympic Team has overcome more obstacles than most of their competitors just to get to Tokyo, including the often traumatic experience of escaping war or persecution and adjusting to life in a new culture.
Their presence in the Paralympics helped draw attention to the challenges facing displaced people living with disabilities, who are at a higher risk of violence, discrimination and abuse. They often lack equal access to basic services, work, education and sporting activities.
While they may not have won any medals, the team’s perseverance was inspiring, prompting an outpouring of support from fans in Japan and around the world. Tokyo school children presented them with more than 10,000 paper airplanes —...
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