RIO / REFUGEES OLYMPICS

Several members of the Congolese refugee community in Rio gathered to watch their compatriots compete in the Olympics as part of the first ever refugee team to take part in the games. UNHCR

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:09
• Production Date: 10 August 2016
• Asset Language: French
• Subject Topical: OLYMPIC GAMES; REFUGEES
• MAMS Id: 1689405
• Parent Id: 1689405
• Alternate Title: unifeed160810e

Description

STORY: RIO / REFUGEES OLYMPICS
TRT: 2:09
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: PLEASE CREDIT UNHCR
LANGUAGE: FRENCH / NATS

DATELINE: 10 AUGUST 2016, RIO DE JANEIRO

Shotlist

10 AUGUST 2016, RIO DE JANEIRO

1. Wide shot, Congolese refugees gathered to watch Judo matches
2. Close up, woman wiping tears
3. Med shot, two women wiping tears
4. SOUNDBITE (French) Mireille Muluile, Congolese refugee in Brazil:
“I support them. All my brothers and sisters around me supports them. When I say my brothers and sisters I don't mean just the Congolese but all the refugees. Everybody stands by them.”
5. Med shot, Mireille waving Congolese flag
6. Various shots, people cheering and watching match
7. SOUNDBITE (French) Christine Kamba, Congolese refugee in Brazil:
“I am here today for him, I am here for you, I am here to see you fight well, you know Christine, we need to fight well, like Congolese. We are here for you.”
8. Various shots, young men cheering
9. SOUNDBITE (French) Charley Kongo, Congolese refugee in Brazil:
“The fact that they lost doesn't mean anything to us. The fact that they participated is a big big victory for them and for all the Congolese refugees and all the refugees around the world.”
10. Various shots, people cheering and watching match
11. SOUNDBITE (French) Charley Kongo, Congolese refugee in Brazil:
“We are very happy. We are on a high. It's a huge victory for us to be represented like this. To be recognised as human beings, as athletes, like everyone else. We are capable of being athletes, doctors, journalists. It sends a message that a refugee is like anybody else.”

Storyline

Several members of the Congolese refugee community in Rio gathered to watch their compatriots compete in the Olympics as part of the first ever refugee team to take part in the games. With teary eyes, the Congolese refugees watched Judokas Yolande Mabike and Popole Misenga today (10 Aug) on a big screen.

SOUNDBITE (French) Mireille Muluile , Congolese Refugee:
“I support them. All my brothers and sisters around me support them. When I say my brothers and sisters I don't mean just the Congolese but all the refugees. Everybody stands by them.”

Yolande Mabike was the first to compete. She lost to a tough Israeli opponent, Linda Bolder. Popole Misenga however won his round and became the first refugee athlete to win a competition in the Olympics.
SOUNDBITE (French) Christine Kamba, Congolese refugee in Brazil:
“I am here today for him, I am here for you, I am here to see you fight well, you know Christine, we need to fight well, like Congolese. We are here for you.”

Later Misenga lost to Korean Gwak Dong-han in the elimination round. Among the Judokas’ supporters, the result was irrelevant.

SOUNDBITE (French) Charley Kongo, Congolese refugee in Brazil:
“The fact that they lost doesn't mean anything to us. The fact that they participated is a big big victory for them and for all the Congolese refugees and all the refugees around the world.”

Charley Kongo, a Congolese refugee living in Brazil said the refugee athletes’ participation in the Olympics was a huge victory for refugees to “be recognised as human beings, as athletes, like everyone else.” He said it sends a message that a refugee is like anybody else.