New UN Partnership to Boost Support for Refugee Athletes

2026-09-19 community

Nairobi, 19 September 2026
World Athletics and the UNHCR have formalised a partnership to expand training and competitive pathways for displaced athletes, building on Kakuma camp’s legacy of producing Olympic runners.

A Landmark Agreement for Global Inclusion

World Athletics has formalised a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to support refugee athletes and communities globally [1][2][3]. Signed in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 18 September 2026, on the eve of the World Athletics Road Running Championships Copenhagen 26, this agreement builds on years of close collaboration [1][2]. The partnership is designed to expand access to training, strengthen protection, and create sustainable competitive pathways for displaced athletes, ensuring that talent is nurtured regardless of geographical or political boundaries [2].

Cultivating Talent in Kakuma and Kalobeyei

The Athlete Refugee Team (ART) programme originally began as a grassroots initiative in a Kenyan refugee camp ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games [1]. Since then, it has evolved into the world’s only year-round, full-time refugee team programme, supported by legendary mentors such as two-time Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge [1]. Under the new MoU, World Athletics and the UNHCR aim to bolster support for this initiative, offering a crucial pathway for talented runners who reside in challenging conditions [1][2].

A Legacy of Hope in Northwest Kenya

The Kakuma Refugee Camp and the neighbouring Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement in northwest Kenya currently host more than 295,000 refugees, the majority of whom are young people [5][7]. Kakuma has long been recognized as a hotbed for athletic potential; in 2016, five of the ten members of the inaugural Refugee Olympic Team trained at the camp, leading International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach to call Kakuma the “cradle of the Refugee Olympic Team” [7]. By bringing structured athletics programmes directly to these settlements, the new partnership seeks to keep this legacy of hope alive [1][7].

Empowering Youth Through Grassroots Sports

This collaboration builds on successful grassroots initiatives, such as a four-day “Kids’ Athletics” workshop held in Kakuma and Kalobeyei between 25 April and 28 April 2024 [5]. The event involved 125 children from five schools and trained 23 teachers to deliver athletic activities using low-resource methods, such as equipment crafted from locally recycled materials [5]. Arcade Arakaza, an assistant coach and refugee from Burundi, highlighted the profound impact of these efforts, stating that athletics gives young people in the refugee community the chance to showcase their talents and follow their dreams [5][6].

A Dual Commitment to Nature and Humanity

In tandem with the UNHCR agreement, World Athletics has also signed on to the Sports for Nature Framework alongside Athletics Kenya on 18 September 2026 [1][4]. This framework, launched in 2022, mandates key principles such as protecting natural habitats, restoring nature, and educating communities [1][4]. World Athletics President Sebastian Coe emphasized that protecting nature is vital for the future of sports, as athletes depend on clean air, clean water, and healthy ecosystems to train and compete [1][4]. Looking forward, World Athletics plans to launch the Athletics for a Better World (ABW) Impact Standard for Federations in 2027 to drive nature-positive change across its 214 member federations [1][4].

Bronnen

Refugee athletes Sports development