Swimmers Matin Barsini and Alaa Maso selected for the Refugee Olympic Team
Swimmers Matin Barsini and Aramaso The International Olympic Committee announced Thursday that he has been selected to represent either the Refugee Olympic Team or the Paris Olympics.
The swimming duo was chosen from among 36 swimmers (23 men and 13 women) named to the team from three continents. They will be competing for the first time with their own emblem under the French acronym EOR (Equipe Olympique des Refugees). Athletes are from 11 of his countries, sponsored by 15 countries, and competing in 12 sports.
This will be the 24-year-old Masot's second Olympics. He grew up in Aleppo, Syria, and resettled in Germany in 2015, fleeing the civil war. He competed in the men's 50m freestyle at the Tokyo Olympics.
Maso swam at each of the past three World Aquatics Championships and the 2021 World Short Course Championships. She placed 60th in the 100 free and 55th in the 50 free at the 2024 Doha Games. She ran the 50 in 23.65, the 100 in 52.11 and the 100 butterfly in 57.13 at the Eindhoven Qualifier in April.
Barshini represented Iran at the Tokyo Olympics, finishing 33rd in the men's 200 butterfly. He moved to the UK from Tehran in 2022 and formally applied for asylum, which required a seven-month hiatus from swimming. The 23-year-old most recently swam at the British Championships last month. He is trained at the University of Surrey.
“The athletes do not represent a particular country. They represent the Refugee Olympic Team,” said the mission director. Ali Zada said in a press release. “Having our own emblem gives us a sense of belonging and the power to represent the over 100 million people who share the same experience. I can't wait to wear it proudly!”
“We welcome you with open arms,” IOC President Thomas Bach said at a ceremony in Lausanne on Thursday. “You enrich our Olympic community and our society. By participating in the Olympics, you will demonstrate the human potential for resilience and excellence. It will send a message of hope to more than 100 million displaced people around the world.”
