The Refugee Athlete Team at the Rio Olympics

For the first time in the history of the Olympics, a team composed of refugees is competing under their own banner. The 10 athletes representing the Refugee Olympic Team hail from South Sudan, Syria, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, all countries affected by ongoing conflicts. Competing in swimming, judo and track and field, the athlete’s appearance at the game is raising awareness for their home countries’ struggles, and they received a standing ovation during the parade of nations during the opening ceremonies. This week and next we will be featuring foods and cuisines of the countries represented by this brave team. Though we have written about the food of Ethiopia, Syria and the DRC, the food of South Sudan is new to us. We look forward to seeing more of these athletes!