Jocelyn Schwalm - The first ever Refugee Team makes it to the 2016 Olympic Games

This year’s Olympics has shaped out to be a little different from the usual fun-spirited world games that take place every 4 years. The lead up to this year’s Olympic games have not rendered the traditional hype that usually surrounds this type of global sports event. There has been criticism over the economic stress of the games, Zika virus, extreme pollution, and Russia being excluded altogether. This year’s Olympics have been met with a fair amount of controversy in all areas. But now there is a group of athletes who understand what it means to thrive in the face of adversity. 

The first ever Olympic Refugee team is currently making global news as they are being credited for the recent burst of optimism the games needed. With all the controversy surrounding refugees worldwide, it is a breath of fresh air to consider this group an asset to the games, as opposed to the burdensome presence they are often labelled with. The team is composed of 10 athletes, with 6 men and 4 women, from countries such as Syria, South Sudan and Congo. These 10 players are adding another dimension and a new conversation about the way the world views them and other refugees around the world. 

Gololcha Boru, a soccer coach of a refugee team in Manitoba, says that this sort of global stage is humanizing the athletes for all the people watching from the comfort of their homes. Most people only take what they see in the news to form a quick opinion of refugees, but the ability to see them in another context opens up a more empathetic conversation surrounding their difficult circumstances.

As we get further into the 2016 Rio Olympics, it is a comforting thought that this year the games will offer more than just friendly competition, but a window into what will hopefully turn out to be the beginning of a positive future for refugees displaced from their homes worldwide. Keep track of BIG BERRY social media platforms and blog as we update them with our very own Olympic games here at camp! We'll be featuring archery, football, canoeing, and more...

*This article was written by Jocelyn Schwalm, Source: www.theplaidzebra.com