Refugee Sprinters Race for Olympic Access

The International Olympic Committee and its partners in Uganda contributed nearly $10,000 over the past year to prepare Florence Masumbe and Rachid Rochene for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. The two teenage sprinters fled instability in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and now live in Uganda, where refugee athletes face challenges accessing training, education and the resources needed to compete internationally. They’re among six athletes selected to represent the Refugee Olympic Team.

Who Gets Access

Masumbe, 16, has spent much of her life in Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement, in a predominantly rural area of south-western Uganda. Rochene lives in an urban part of the country. The IOC and its partners supported their preparation, after Game Connect identified their athletic talents. The six-year initiative aims to improve mental health and wellbeing through sport.

Refugee athletes face barriers to training, education and the resources required for international competition, the report says. It doesn’t detail the athletes’ training costs or how the nearly $10,000 was divided. The contribution covered efforts to help Masumbe and Rochene pursue their sporting ambitions.

Brandon Katura, coordinator of Game Connect, said the athletes’ expectations had changed as competition approached. “Seven months or a year ago, they were probably running for fun, or they came out for trials just to do it as a way of passing time because they were free,” he said. “Now you find that they are excited, they are looking forward to travelling. They are looking forward to competing with people from other countries. They want to get scholarships for school.”

Education and Opportunity

Masumbe hopes the Games will help change her life and inspire other young refugees. “I was so happy to have been selected to go to Dakar. I know if I continue with athletics, it will transform my life and I can get a good school. My family members will also have better opportunities, and even other refugee children will be inspired,” she said.

Rochene described international competition as a childhood dream. “I feel good, I feel so wonderful. You know, this was a dream since I was young. I wanted to compete with people, to see how I can also do, to also achieve medals. You know, why not also a world record.”

A Wider Displacement Crisis

The first Youth Olympic Games to include refugee athletes will take place in Senegal’s capital from 31 October to 13 November. Their participation brings the Refugee Olympic Team initiative to a younger generation. For the past decade, the IOC has promoted the inclusion of displaced athletes through the team, which has enabled people forced to flee their homes to compete internationally.

Nearly 118 million people worldwide are forcibly displaced, according to the United Nations refugee agency. Masumbe and Rochene are focused on their performances in Dakar. Their participation also highlights sport’s potential to restore confidence, create opportunities and help young refugees imagine a future beyond displacement.