With the World Athletics Championships under way in London, a film and a photography exhibition document how sport is improving the lives of those with no country to call their own
Sporting eyes are once again on the athletics track as the World Athletics Championships unfolds in and around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Though stars such as Usain Bolt, and the controversy surrounding former drugs cheats may be dominating headlines, a team of refugees is competing for the first time in the competition’s 34-year history.The Athlete Refugee Team: a small group of athletes with no nation of their own to represent, was first introduced at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and five members are now competing in London.
The news might all seem bad, but good things are happening too.
The South Sudanese, Somalian, Congolese and Ethiopian-born athletes fled civil wars and the dangers of being either killed or forced into becoming child soldiers. They left their countries to start new lives. But going from the Kenyan refugee camp where they were all scouted for the team, to competing in major athletics tournaments is a transformation that few would have anticipated.
Scouted by Kenyan charity the Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation (TLPF) – founded by former Kenyan long distance track and road runner Tegla Loroupe – the athletes have been given training and accommodation in Kenya, as well as educational opportunities.
Now, a film and an exhibition of photographs taken in the team’s Kenyan base, have been created to tell the athletes’ stories.
The project is called #WeAreAllOne.Meet the refugees competing in this year’s World Championships
James Nyang Chiengjiek
400 metres
James was scouted at a refugee camp by former Kenyan running star Tegla Loroupe. It was her vision that led to the first ever Refugee Team entering the Maracanã Stadium in Rio in 2016. James was part of that team, too.
Gai Nyang Tap
800 metres
Gai, 25, is originally from South Sudan and one of 31 refugee athletes based at the Tegla Loroupe Refugee Athletes Training Center in the Ngong Hills, Kenya. They come from five nations and several ethnic groups. They are, however, all athletes. “Whether African, refugees or whatever, we are all one,” he says.
Rose Nathike Lokonyen
800 metres
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