Uganda’s refugee sporting community has reached a remarkable milestone following the selection of two young athletes to the first-ever Refugee Olympic Team for the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026.
Florence Masumbe and Rachid Rochene, both based in Uganda, will represent the Refugee Olympic Team in the women’s and men’s 200-metre events, respectively. Their inclusion was officially announced during the 146th International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session, where the historic team was unveiled by Chef de Mission Yiech Pur Biel.
The Dakar 2026 Refugee Olympic Team will make history as the first refugee team to compete at a Youth Olympic Games. Comprising six athletes with equal representation of women and men, the team will compete in Athletics, Judo and Taekwondo. All selected athletes are based in Africa and will represent millions of displaced young people across the continent and beyond.
For Masumbe and Rochene, the journey to Dakar is a story of perseverance, talent and determination. From refugee communities in Uganda to one of the world’s biggest youth sporting events, the pair have demonstrated how sport can create opportunities and inspire hope.
The six-member team includes athletes hosted by Uganda and Kenya, with Masumbe and Rochene among the two athletes representing Uganda. Their selection highlights the growing role Uganda continues to play in supporting refugee athletes and creating pathways for young talent to thrive.
Uganda currently hosts nearly two million refugees and asylum seekers, making it one of the largest refugee-hosting countries in the world. Masumbe and Rochene were identified through Game Connect, a community sports programme funded by the Olympic Refugee Foundation (ORF). Their progression to the Refugee Olympic Team marks the first time athletes from an ORF-supported grassroots programme have advanced directly into an elite Olympic development pathway through the Refugee Athlete Support Programme.
The achievement is the result of collaboration between several organizations, including the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Olympic Refugee Foundation (ORF), Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC), Uganda Athletics, Game Connect and other partners dedicated to expanding opportunities for refugee youth through sport.
Speaking about the significance of the team, Chef de Mission Yiech Pur Biel emphasised the wider impact of the athletes’ participation, noting that they have the opportunity to serve as ambassadors for millions of young refugees around the world.
As preparations begin for Dakar 2026, the six selected athletes will attend a training camp in Kaptagat, Kenya. Supported by the Olympic Refugee Foundation and Olympic Solidarity, the camp will help them prepare for the Youth Olympic Games Opening Ceremony scheduled for 31 October 2026.
For Florence Masumbe and Rachid Rochene, the road to Dakar is about more than competition. Their journey symbolises hope, resilience and the power of sport to transform lives. As they prepare to step onto the global stage, they carry with them the dreams of countless young refugees and the pride of the communities that have supported them along the way.