The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced the launch of the Olympic Refugee Foundation at its Session in Lima on Friday, with the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) being named as a founding donating partner.
The Foundation is aimed at pursuing the work undertaken throughout the Olympic Movement over recent years to support refugees around the world. It is also another major initiative that has emerged from the strong and longstanding partnership between the IOC and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
President of the QOC, HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al Thani, said,"The Qatar Olympic Committee has made a donation to the Olympic Refuge Foundation to support the International Olympic Committee and the UNHCR in the valuable work that they are doing to improve the lives of young refugees around the world through the power of sport.
"The Qatar Olympic Committee shares the belief that having a safe space to be able to practise and play sport is a basic human right, and we are committed to promoting sport as a tool for peace and inclusion in society. Sport spreads solidarity and hope, promotes a healthy lifestyle and brings communities together and we hope that our contribution to the Olympic Refuge Foundation will have a positive impact on the lives of young people globally."
The aim of the Olympic Refuge Foundation is to create safe, basic and accessible sports facilities in areas where there are refugees and internally displaced people. The Foundation will develop sporting activities projects that can be implemented in a sustainable way within these safe environments.
