(ATR) Thomas Bach outlined new IOC plans at the UN General Assembly to build on the success of the refugee team at the Rio Olympics.
Speaking at the Summit for Refugees and Migrants on Monday, Bach spoke about the success of the team of 10 refugee athletes who competed in Rio and how the IOC is continuing to support them.
The IOC chief said the Refugee Olympic Team "showed us all that despite the unimaginable tragedies and suffering that they have faced, anyone can contribute to society through their talent, skills and most importantly, through the strength of the human spirit.
"Their participation in the Olympic Games is proof that refugees are an enrichment to society just as they are an enrichment to our Olympic family."
He added: "When the Olympic flame was extinguished, it brought the Olympic Games to an end, but the IOC’s support for the refugee athletes goes on.
"We continue by their side beyond the Olympic Games to help them to integrate in their new home countries or to prepare to go back to their countries of origin to contribute to building a better society there.
Bach announced new plans to create ‘safe places’ for children to play sport throughout the world.
"In cities where there is a displaced migrant population, in our refugee camps or wherever in the world it is needed – sport can become the glue which will bind communities together," he told members of the UN assembly.
"It can break down cultural and gender barriers in a safe environment promoting social cohesion peace and equality. Safe places can not only provide a platform for all the benefits that sport can bring, but also create better opportunities for other civil society actors to do their job, whether it be to provide education or health services. It places sport at the very heart of public policy."
Bach did not disclose details on how the scheme would be delivered, where or when.
UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon met with Bach in New York and thanked the IOC for sending a message of solidarity and hope to the millions of refugees around the world through the Refugee Olympic Team.
Bach noted how the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development specifically recognises sport as an "important enabler" to promote peace and understanding.
"Sport can also be an ‘important enabler’ to deliver the goals of inclusion for refugees and migrants," he said, underlining how the ‘safe places" initiative would be "easily adaptable to local areas of need in any given country".
He promised the IOC would strengthen its cooperation with UNHCR. Bach’s predecessor Jacques Rogge is the UN’s special envoy for youth refugees and sport.
"We will build on our 20 years of partnership with the UNHCR to provide humanitarian assistance through sport to refugees," he told the congress.
"We do this because sport can heal wounds. Sport has the power to bring people together no matter what their background or where they come from. Sport always builds bridges, it never erects walls."
Sources confirm to ATR that USOC president and IOC member Larry Probst is in New York with the IOC president. Mario Pescante, the Italian IOC member who is the IOC's UN observer, is also in New York.
Written by Mark Bisson
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