The Olympic Spirit – Rebuilding Refugee lives
The principal function of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), is to protect and provide assistance to the world’s refugees. Its goal is to find permanent or durable solutions, to refugees’ problems, though voluntary repatriation, local integration, or resettlement in another country. But until such solutions are found, UNHCR is often requested by Governments, to provide emergency aid and longer-term assistance to refugees. In most refugee situations, about 50% of the population is made up of children and youth.
The joint IOC/UNHCR sports projects, implemented in some thirty refugee camps and resettlement areas, in country in the five continents, have been designed to offer structured sport and recreational activities for refugee children whose social bearings have been destroyed by war and conflict. Their subsistence needs – food supplies, shelter, health care, primary and adult education – are met by UNHCR, which also provide support for local communities hosting the refugees. However, because of the large number of children and youth, the need or organized recreational activities is strong. Such activities provide opportunities to make friends, to overcome the idleness that is often a part of life in a refugee camp, and to build tolerance and understanding.
Taken from "The International Olympic Committee and the United Nations System" – document prepared by the IOC Department of International Cooperation, January 2002.