Making history in Dakar 2026: Six young refugees, one Olympic dream

Now the medals are already being won at Dakar 2026, Cameroon's women's stunt Costa Rica 7-0 in futsal, while host Senegal suffered a 7-2 defeat to Ukraine. But beyond the scores and the celebrations, Some athletes have overcome far greater challenges. Members of the First Refugee Youth Olympic Team, now living in Uganda and Kenya's Kakuma Refugee Camp, after fleeing conflict, are proving that the Games are about much more than sport. Take a listen. I was practising, I think for one year, waiting for this game. So I'm ready. Ayo. I'm so happy because I heard it is the first time for a refugee to compete in a youth olympics game and I expect to win. My message to other young refugees, athletes like me, is that I just want to tell them to continue working hard, to never give up in life and also never discourage themselves saying that I'm a refugee, I can't do anything. A refugee is just a name. It shows hope. It shows that there is something that they can do better than just vulnerability. It shows that tomorrow they'll be somewhere. And it really gives me hope, the fact that we had six athletes. So many athletes back home there are watching us. They're asking us, when are you playing? We are excited. When are we going to continue? When is the next trials? So, so many questions are being asked.