Yiech Pur Biel to Lead First Refugee Team at Youth Olympics in Senegal

A Milestone for Youth Athletics

For the first time in the history of the Youth Olympic Games, a dedicated Refugee Olympic Team will compete on the global stage. Led by Chef de Mission Yiech Pur Biel, the team consists of six young athletes who aim to highlight the ongoing challenges faced by displaced populations worldwide.

The Journey of Yiech Pur Biel

Yiech Pur Biel, who previously made history as a member of the first-ever refugee team at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics, returns to the Olympic movement in a leadership capacity. His personal history includes:

• Early Hardship: Fleeing his home in South Sudan as a child following attacks on his village.
• Life in Kakuma: Spending his formative years in the Kakuma refugee settlement in Kenya.
• Athletic Transition: Initially interested in football, Biel transitioned to track and field during International Olympic Committee trials, where he famously competed barefoot.

Focus on Dakar 2026

The upcoming Youth Games in Senegal represent a historic moment for the Olympic movement, as they are the first Olympic sporting event to be hosted on African soil. This location holds particular significance, as the continent currently hosts a large proportion of the world's 120 million displaced individuals.

Athlete Perspective

The team includes athletes such as 15-year-old Arno Yafunga Botay, who arrived at the Kakuma camp after fleeing the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2017. Botay, who will compete in judo, has expressed a goal of securing a medal to inspire others currently residing in refugee camps.

How to Verify and Follow

• The opening ceremony for the Dakar 2026 Youth Games is scheduled for Saturday.
• Official updates regarding the Refugee Olympic Team and competition results can be monitored through the official International Olympic Committee (IOC) channels and their respective media outlets.
• The BBC Newsbeat reports provide original accounts of these athletes' personal histories.