At the start of the Paralympics, Bayern star Alphonso Davies wrote an emotional letter to the Refugees team at the Paralympics. Davies was born in a refugee camp himself.
Around 4400 athletes will take part in 22 sports at the Paralympics in the coming weeks. For the Paralympics refugees team, the games started with very special news: Bayern star and UNHCR ambassador Alphonso Davies wrote to them in a letter emphasizing their role in the games.
Davies, who was born in a refugee camp in Ghana and spent the first five years of his life there, wrote in his letter that not everyone would understand the journey that the refugee athletes have made. He added, “But I get it and it’s an important part of who I am today. I read your stories and saw what was behind you. You guys are the bravest sports team in the world right now.”
Davies also emphasized in his message how great the team’s influence is on other people: “You are now role models and you have the opportunity to inspire other people. Make no mistake: what you will do in Tokyo will be the lives of other people change.”
Young people in particular would look up to the athletes. “There will be young people who start exercising because of you. Refugees will believe in themselves because they see you win.”
Six athletes are represented in the Paralympic refugee team: Taekwondo athlete Parfait Hakizimana (born in Burundi), canoeist Anas Al Khalifa and swimmer Ibrahim Al Hussein (both born in Syria), club thrower Alia Issa (Greece), discus thrower Shahrad Nasajpour (Iran) and swimmer Abbas Karimi (Afghanistan).
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
