--- title: "IOC commits to The Promise on 75th anniversary of Refugee Convention; Dakar 2026 Refugee Olympic Team to compete" sdDatePublished: "2026-07-28T13:13:00Z" source: "https://www.olympics.com/en/olympic-refuge-foundation/news/ioc-commits-to-the-promise-on-75th-anniversary-of-refugee-convention" topics: - name: "sport organisation" identifier: "medtop:20001125" - name: "human rights" identifier: "medtop:20000592" - name: "refugees and internally displaced people" identifier: "medtop:20000645" - name: "sport" identifier: "medtop:15000000" - name: "Olympic Games" identifier: "medtop:20001177" locations: - "Rio de Janeiro" - "Tokyo" - "Île-de-France" - "Los Angeles" - "Dakar" --- IOC commits to The Promise on 75th anniversary of Refugee Convention; Dakar 2026 Refugee Olympic Team to compete IOC commits to “The Promise” on 75th anniversary of Refugee Convention Sport demonstrates the courage to include Refugee athletes given new pathways on the road to LA28 Call launched for sport and displacement initiatives More than 33,000 young people reached by the Olympic Refuge Foundation in 2025 “What do you mean I can play?”: Building bridges through wheelchair basketball IOC commits to “The Promise” on 75th anniversary of Refugee Convention The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has marked the 75th anniversary of the signing of the 1951 Refugee Convention by reaffirming its commitment to building a world “where refugees are included”. The IOC has today joined 75 entities and organisations in signing “ The Promise ” , an open letter that upholds the promise of the Refugee Convention and calls for action, compassion and solidarity. The letter is issued by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, as the guardian of the Convention. The IOC has held a long-standing relationship with UNHCR which dates back more than 20 years and which has demonstrated time and again the IOC’s commitment to ensuring safety, inclusion and durable solutions for refugees through sport and the Olympic Movement. This partnership resulted in the creation of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team in 2016, the Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF) and the Sport for Refugees Coalition, which the ORF co-chairs with UNHCR. The ORF is responsible for the practical implementation and delivery of the IOC’s commitment. The ORF Chair of the Board, IOC Honorary President Thomas Bach, said: “The Refugee Convention, which was signed in 1951, establishes that everyone has the right to seek safety, regardless of who they are or where they come from. Being a refugee should only be a chapter in a person's life, not their whole life story. “In sport everyone is welcome. Sport can restore dignity, community and hope. The ORF is committed to supporting refugees by working with UNHCR and the wider Olympic Movement to deliver sport-based humanitarian initiatives and championing the inclusion of refugee athletes in national and international competition. “We will showcase this again, when we will bring the first IOC Refugee Olympic Team to the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games later this year. The team members will have the opportunity to compete among the best youth athletes of the world. They will give hope and confidence to the millions of young refugees across the globe.” Created in the aftermath of the Second World War, the 1951 Refugee Convention provides the internationally recognised definition of a refugee and outlines the legal protection, rights and assistance a refugee is entitled to receive under international law. “The Promise” commits organisations, including the IOC, to a world where: Safety is a certainty: Everyone has the right to seek safety from war, violence and persecution. Refugees are included: Refugees belong in our communities, schools and workplaces, where they can find opportunities and contribute to the societies that host them. Solutions are swift: Whether it’s integration, a fresh start in a new country, or a safe return home, we seek to resolve displacement right from the start. We act together: From governments to local communities, global institutions to town halls, boardrooms to faith groups, businesses to civil society, we all play our part in making a difference. Sport to help gather and rebuild The IOC Refugee Olympic Team first competed at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, and has since competed at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. The team will once again compete at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games and the LA28 Olympic Games. Through the Refugee Athlete Support programme, the Olympic Refuge Foundation, with the support of National Olympic Committees and International Federations, gives athletes the opportunity to continue their sports career, in spite of their displacement. Founded by the IOC, the ORF adapts sport to meet the realities of humanitarian crises. When forced displacement strips away the routines, community and sense of belonging that hold a young person's life together, sport can help them regather and rebuild. The ORF works alongside local partners and coaches to create safe places and initiatives where young people can play, connect and find the stability they need.