Brazil
Members of the inaugural Olympic refugee team visited the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday.
The team includes five athletes from South Sudan, two from Syria, two from Democratic Republic of Congo and one from Ethiopia.
All are required to have official refugee status, according to the United Nations.
Members of the #RefugeeOlympicTeam
— Olympics (Olympics) July 30, 2016RefugeesOlympic
spend a little time together in #RIO! ❤️ #RoadToRio pic.twitter.com/tqGOPtf7jB
The International Olympic Committee introduced the team in June to draw global attention to the plight of refugees.
Historical moment..The five members of
— Refugee Olympic Team (RefugeesOlympic) July 29, 2016RefugeesOlympic
(Athletics) enter the Olympic Village. #RefugeeOlympicTeam pic.twitter.com/0i3aa8S6GU
The athletes, six men and four women will compete in the sports of swimming, judo and athletics and march with the Olympic flag just before host Brazil at the opening ceremony August 5.
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