Sporting chance provides images of hope for the displaced

When people are forced to flee violence, conflict or persecution, they face a period of exile and uncertainty that can last for years, a statement by the UNHCR said.

As they seek to rebuild their lives, sport can be a source of hope and empowerment, and a path to physical and mental wellbeing.

Sport can help people to escape their everyday worries, restore a sense of fun and enjoyment, and provide some normality amid the disruption. But it is more than that – sport gives refugees the chance to heal, develop and grow, and contributes to new futures full of purpose, pride and achievement. And it can bring displaced people and their host communities closer together, breaking down barriers, sparking new friendships and facilitating integration and inclusion.

The new exhibition, organized by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, the Olympic Refugee Foundation and City of Paris, demonstrates the power of sport to transform the lives of the forcibly displaced – whether as a vehicle for building lasting friendships, changing negative attitudes, and enhancing social cohesion, or taking the best and most talented all the way to the Olympic Games.