A refugee residing in the United States of America (UAE), marathon runner Guor Marial had plied his trade at the 2012 London Games by entering the spectacle as an independent athlete. Three years later, the United Nations General Assembly witnessed the creation of the Refugee Olympic Team in October. With the global refugee crisis leaving millions of people displaced, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach had formed the Refugee Olympic Team which first appeared at the Olympics in the 2016 edition. 

Even though there are no national emblems on their training gears, the 29 displaced athletes of the Refugee Olympic Team will be keen on making millions proud by leading the Olympic movement at the Tokyo Games 2020. For athletes who are yet to find a place call home, the refugee team serves an opportunity to those displaced sportspersons seeking nothing but Olympic glory at the showpiece event.  

In the upcoming edition of the Tokyo Olympics, 29 displaced athletes representing the Refugee Olympic Team will be competing in 12 sports. The 29-member contingent includes nine athletes from Syria while five are originally from Iran. Four athletes of the Refugee Team are from South Sudan and three originally have arrived from Afghanistan. The likes of Judoka Popole Misenga and Rose Lokonyen will feature in their second Olympic Games as members of the Refugee Team at Tokyo. 

Syrian swimmer Yusra Mardini will also fight for a podium finish at the Tokyo Games 2020. The 23-year-old had also featured in Rio. Kimia Alizadeh who deserted from Iran to Germany had a clinched bronze medal at Rio in taekwondo. Javad Mahjoub, who is a refugee in Canada, is a gold medallist at the 2013 Asian Judo Championships.

Hamoon Derafshipour, who is also in Canada, had won bronze at the 2018 World Karate Championships. The team features 20 coaches and 15 team officials. The athletes and members of the Refugee Team had assembled in Doha, Qatar. The Olympic Refugee Team will start arriving in Tokyo later on Sunday.