The Olympic Refuge Foundation, the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee were awarded the North-South Prize, awarded by the Council of EuropeThe body thus welcomes the initiative of the three actors so that refugee athletes can participate in the Games, in a specific team. The Refugee Olympic Team was created in 2016The awards ceremony was held at the Portuguese Parliament in Lisbon. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, highlighted the work accomplished in favor of dialogue, human dignity and hope ».
Nawal El Moutawakel, IOC Vice-PresidentShe was in Lisbon for the occasion, accompanied by Leila Marques, vice-president of the IPC, and athletes Cindy Ngamba and Zakia Khudadadi, medalists at the Games. The Olympic Games embody the best that sport can produce: excellence, respect, and friendship.Nawal El Moutawakel said. Refugee Olympic and Paralympic teams, as well as athletes like Cindy and Zakia, are perfect examples of this. These teams demonstrate how sport can have a positive impact and facilitate the integration of refugees into their host community. Thanks to their sports platform, These athletes offer millions of refugees around the world recognition, dignity, and a voice.They are the most visible, but they represent a much larger global population. »
