olympics

• Italy

In Italy, the Olympic Committee chief has sparked a renewed debate over citizenship law by demanding reforms so young athletes born to foreign parents can compete for Italy. Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese has indicated that she's open to discussing 'ius soli' (birthright citizenship) for athletes and others, drawing criticism from Matteo Salvini.

• Iran
• Japan

Kimia Alizadeh is labeled many things: heroine, enemy of the state, refugee and Olympic bronze medalist in taekwondo. She thinks she failed in Tokyo after missing the medals podium — but the opposite is the case.

• Syria

Syrian swimmer Yusra Mardini had no chance in the preliminary heat at the Tokyo Olympics. The message that the refugee team’s flag bearer sent to the world though, was more important than the result.

• Germany
• Switzerland

The International Paralympic Committee has revealed the Refugee Paralympic Team for the upcoming Tokyo Games. Six athletes with a disability, including the first female one, will compete in athletics, swimming, canoeing and taekwondo. The announcement comes three weeks after the presentation of the Refugee Olympic Team.

• Germany
• Iran

Saeid Fazloula fled political persecution in his home country Iran in 2015 and sought refuge in Germany. Ever since the canoeist has been training hard to make a dream come true: compete at the Olympic Games as part of the Refugee Olympic Team.

• Afghanistan
• France

Masomah Alizada is one of the 29 refugee athletes who will compete at the Tokyo Olympics this summer. She fled to France from Afghanistan after she and her cycling friends were threatened by the Taliban. Now, the 24-year-old wants to inspire other Afghan women to fight for their freedom.

• Switzerland

The International Olympic Committee and the UN refugee agency have revealed the final refugee squad competing under the Olympic flag during next month's Tokyo Games. Six of the 29 members were already part of the first refugee team at Rio 2016.

• Germany
• Iran

Having missed the last two Olympics, Iranian canoeist Saeid Fazloula is closer than ever to competing in the world's biggest sporting event. He's been shortlisted for the refugee team for the embattled Tokyo Olympics.

• Eritrea
• Japan
• Kenya

With the Olympic Games just two months away, refugee athletes are putting everything they have into reaching the goal of competing on the team in Tokyo.

• Japan

UNHCR has launched a social media campaign with a video to support the Refugee Olympic and Paralympic teams.

• Afghanistan
• Germany
• Iran

In 2020, a global health pandemic, economic problems and even more people displaced than before were just some of the challenges we all faced. But there were some positives too, including these stories of sporting achievement.

• Germany
• Iran

An Iranian born canoeist, who was forced to flee his country in 2015, has just been given the green light to attempt qualification for the IOC Refugee Team at the Tokyo Olympics. It’s the next step on the way to an Olympic dream for Saeid Fazloula who lives and trains in Germany.