From immigrants to sports figures: The case study of the ioc refugee team in Rio Olympics 2016

This paper examines the experiences of refugee athletes in pursuing their ultimate dream to compete in the Olympics, and explores the challenges and prospects they faced. Relevant data were obtained from secondary sources, such as sports articles and biographies on websites, about refugee athletes c...

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Main Authors: Rahim, Baidruel Hairiel Abd, Diah, Nurazzura Mohamad, Aman, Mohd Salleh
Format: Article
Published: International Islamic University Malaysia 2018
Subjects:
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author Rahim, Baidruel Hairiel Abd
Diah, Nurazzura Mohamad
Aman, Mohd Salleh
author_facet Rahim, Baidruel Hairiel Abd
Diah, Nurazzura Mohamad
Aman, Mohd Salleh
author_sort Rahim, Baidruel Hairiel Abd
collection UM
description This paper examines the experiences of refugee athletes in pursuing their ultimate dream to compete in the Olympics, and explores the challenges and prospects they faced. Relevant data were obtained from secondary sources, such as sports articles and biographies on websites, about refugee athletes competing in the Rio Olympics in 2016. Eleven sports personalities among the refugees from South Sudan, Syria, Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia were studied. They represented the Refugee Team in judo, athletics and swimming. A summative content analysis was conducted to see variations in their sporting motives. The analysis suggests that despite of harsh living conditions in their home countries, refugees’ passion to compete in sport was very much alive when they arrived at the host countries. The paper also reveals that host countries like Germany, Brazil, and Luxembourg provided several opportunities for the refugees to venture into sport, but available opportunities are selective due to their status as refugees. Also, their participation in sport is confined to Olympic events only. Today, participation in sport is seen as an avenue for refugees to salvage their pride and dignity apart from seeking better opportunities in life. Indeed, sport is a powerful tool to unite people from different backgrounds and nationalities.
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spelling um.eprints-209902019-04-18T02:07:53Z http://eprints.um.edu.my/20990/ From immigrants to sports figures: The case study of the ioc refugee team in Rio Olympics 2016 Rahim, Baidruel Hairiel Abd Diah, Nurazzura Mohamad Aman, Mohd Salleh GV Recreation Leisure This paper examines the experiences of refugee athletes in pursuing their ultimate dream to compete in the Olympics, and explores the challenges and prospects they faced. Relevant data were obtained from secondary sources, such as sports articles and biographies on websites, about refugee athletes competing in the Rio Olympics in 2016. Eleven sports personalities among the refugees from South Sudan, Syria, Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia were studied. They represented the Refugee Team in judo, athletics and swimming. A summative content analysis was conducted to see variations in their sporting motives. The analysis suggests that despite of harsh living conditions in their home countries, refugees’ passion to compete in sport was very much alive when they arrived at the host countries. The paper also reveals that host countries like Germany, Brazil, and Luxembourg provided several opportunities for the refugees to venture into sport, but available opportunities are selective due to their status as refugees. Also, their participation in sport is confined to Olympic events only. Today, participation in sport is seen as an avenue for refugees to salvage their pride and dignity apart from seeking better opportunities in life. Indeed, sport is a powerful tool to unite people from different backgrounds and nationalities. International Islamic University Malaysia 2018 Article PeerReviewed Rahim, Baidruel Hairiel Abd and Diah, Nurazzura Mohamad and Aman, Mohd Salleh (2018) From immigrants to sports figures: The case study of the ioc refugee team in Rio Olympics 2016. Al-Shajarah: Journal of The International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization. pp. 137-154. ISSN 1394-6870, https://journals.iium.edu.my/shajarah/index.php/shaj/article/view/740
spellingShingle GV Recreation Leisure
Rahim, Baidruel Hairiel Abd
Diah, Nurazzura Mohamad
Aman, Mohd Salleh
From immigrants to sports figures: The case study of the ioc refugee team in Rio Olympics 2016
title From immigrants to sports figures: The case study of the ioc refugee team in Rio Olympics 2016
title_full From immigrants to sports figures: The case study of the ioc refugee team in Rio Olympics 2016
title_fullStr From immigrants to sports figures: The case study of the ioc refugee team in Rio Olympics 2016
title_full_unstemmed From immigrants to sports figures: The case study of the ioc refugee team in Rio Olympics 2016
title_short From immigrants to sports figures: The case study of the ioc refugee team in Rio Olympics 2016
title_sort from immigrants to sports figures the case study of the ioc refugee team in rio olympics 2016
topic GV Recreation Leisure
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AT diahnurazzuramohamad fromimmigrantstosportsfiguresthecasestudyoftheiocrefugeeteaminrioolympics2016
AT amanmohdsalleh fromimmigrantstosportsfiguresthecasestudyoftheiocrefugeeteaminrioolympics2016