The flame for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro will pass through
a refugee camp in Athens and one refugee will be among the torch
bearers, the head of the International Olympic Committee said on
Thursday.
The torch will be lit in Greece's ancient Olympia on
April 21 before leaving for the South American country 12 days later.
It
will arrive in Brazil on May 3 to start its 100-day relay across the
country.
Greece became the main gateway for more than a million
refugees who began arriving in Europe last year, most fleeing war and
persecution in countries like Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.
"The
Olympic flame will pass through this camp here and will be shown to the
refugees," IOC head Thomas Bach said during a visit to the Eleonas camp
for refugees and migrants in Athens, which houses mostly Afghans and
Iranians. "One of the refugees will be invited to carry the torch."
The
IOC has already said top athletes who are refugees with no home country
to represent will be allowed to compete at the Rio Games under the
Olympic flag.
"We want to draw the attention of the world to the
problems of the refugees," Bach said. How many refugees might take part
was difficult to estimate, he said, "but it would not be a big number
... between five to 10."
Refugees at the Games will march behind the Olympic committees flag and will be hosted at the Olympic Village, he said.
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