World Athletics has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the UNHCR, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, to further its commitment to working with refugee athletes around the world.The agreement with the UN’s Refugee Agency builds on World Athletics’ long-standing collaboration with UNHCR and will help expand athletics’ positive impact on refugee athletes and communities worldwide.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more news“What began as a largely grassroots initiative at a refugee camp in Kenya ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games has grown to become the world’s only year-round full-time refugee team programme,” World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said. ##NAJAVA_MECA_9968594##“The programme will only grow stronger thanks to our ongoing collaboration and friendship with UNHCR.”The team made its first competitive appearance as part of the Refugee Olympic Team at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, a debut that became a source of inspiration for tens of millions of displaced persons from around the world and whose stories resonated with millions more.World Athletics built on that foundation to create what is now a formalised team, albeit one whose athletes are currently spread across eight countries – which has competed as the Athlete Refugee Team (ART) in nearly all World Athletics Series events since.Ewoi secures third place at Athlos 2026The MOU outlines current and future priority areas for cooperation where the respective and complementary tools, capacities and expertise of the two organisations can be optimised and assistance towards forcibly displaced and stateless persons can be improved.The purpose of this MOU is for UNHCR and World Athletics to commit to continue assisting and upholding the rights of refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other persons of concern to UNHCR and affected communities through partnership using athletics as a tool for inclusion and protection globally.The specific objectives of the partnership between UNHCR and World Athletics include:##NAJAVA_MECA_9968580##*Providing opportunities for young athletes from affected communities to access elite athletics programmes, including training camps, coaching opportunities and media training;*Promoting and facilitating equal access to and participation of refugees and other persons of concern in relevant athletics competitions at local, national, continental and international levels, including at the Youth Olympics Games Dakar 2026 and the World Athletics Championships Beijing 2027.*Increasing the availability and access to organised athletics and sport-based initiatives for refugee and hosting communities, actively considering age, gender, ability and other diversity needs, including through the World Athletics Kids’ Athletic Programme;##NAJAVA_MECA_9968490##*Promoting the mental health and wellbeing of young refugees through joint communications and advocacy initiatives; and*Promoting the protection of refugee athletes through the implementation of the World Athletics Safeguarding Policy in collaboration with the Athletics Integrity Unit and UNHCR’s Protection Policy and Guidance.Still in the woods: FKF Premier League kick-off postponed once againTo further those objectives, UNHCR and World Athletics have agreed to collaborate in the areas of protection, inclusion, advocacy and sports diplomacy, communication and the support of elite sports.Athletics Kenya, along with the country’s National Olympic Committee NOC-K, has also played a pivotal role in the Athlete Refugee Team programme, providing logistical support, training and competition opportunities to several refugee athletes based in Kenya.Kenyan athletes have also provided inspiration, including two-time Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge, who has served as a mentor for the Athlete Refugee Team since 2023.How Kenya will profit from billions invested in hosting 2029 World Athletics Championships
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