When the first-ever Refugee Olympic Team was introduced, they had no flag and no national anthem. Now, a new organization is endowing the 10 athletes with a flag that they can call their own.
Since the members are from four different countries, they have been competing under the Olympic flag. The five rings symbolize international unity and cooperation. Likewise, the Refugee Nation has created an official flag to unify the team.
#RamiAnis finishes 6th in his heat.Someone was there to cheer him on properly. #GoRefugeeNation #RefugeeOlympicTeam pic.twitter.com/W2tWx4tr9D
— The Refugee Nation (@GoRefugeeNation) August 9, 2016
The designer of the new flag is artist and Syrian refugee, Yara Said. Her inspiration behind the black and orange theme is the life vests worn by refugees while fleeing their countries. The orange field with a horizontal black stripe is a “symbol of solidarity for all those who crossed the sea in search of a new home,” according to the India Times.
“I myself wore one, which is why I so identify with these colors – and these people,” Said said on the organization’s webpage.
The team’s athletes are no different. Five of them are from South Sudan, two escaped Syria, two fled Congo, and one is from Ethiopia, according to The Sun.
“We felt that we needed to do something to give them an identity, a flag and an anthem they could call their own,” the Refugee Nation’s cofounder, Artur Lipori, said, according to Mashable. “’National’ symbols that could really represent these brave people. As a tribute to the 10 athletes and all refugees in the world.”
Lipori and his co-founder, Caro Rebello, also wanted to give the athletes an anthem. Thus, music composer and Syrian refugee, Moutaz Arian, wrote it.
However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has yet to approve the flag. Nonetheless, the Refugee Nation is already handing out the flags in Rio.
In addition, the organization started an online petition for the IOC to let the athletes carry the flag in the Olympics, according to the India Times.
It said, “We wanted to give these brave souls something more. Their very own nation, with their very own flag. Even their very own national anthem.”
Moreover, the Refugee Nation is aiming is to make a difference not just for the athletes, but for “the millions of refugees around the world.”
