(ECNS) -- In 2016, Yang Yang—China’s first Winter Olympic gold medalist, who was then also an International Olympic Committee member—took part in early discussions and voted to establish the first-ever Refugee Olympic Team. This marked the beginning of her deep engagement with the refugee community. During the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics, she had a meal with the refugee athletes and sensed their powerful determination to achieve excellence and pursue their dreams.
This profound experience strengthened Yang Yang’s commitment to refugee issues, leading her to publicly advocate for them and support UNHCR’s work. In 2023, she was officially appointed as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador. In this role, she visited refugee camps in Kenya and Ethiopia, where her direct engagement with refugees gave her a deeper, more nuanced understanding of their resilience and lived experience.
In a recent exclusive interview with China News Service, Yang Yang shared her view that sports can inspire refugees to pursue their dreams amidst adversity—and that the resilience they show in this pursuit can, in turn, inspire the wider world.
During her visits to the camps, Yang Yang was immediately struck by the harsh realities of life. She saw that people often lack basic necessities like food and safety, while opportunities for work and education are so scarce that this directly leads to high dropout rates among teenagers. Perhaps because life there is so difficult, sports become especially precious—a temporary escape. A game of football, for instance, is a “big deal” for everyone in the camp. A single match can unite and energize the entire community.
At the Bambasi Refugee Camp in Ethiopia this past September, Yang Yang joined the local spectators in cheering during a football league final between a refugee team and a host community team. The players gave their all, and the crowd was electrified. When the refugee team secured the winning goal amid cheers, they lifted the trophy skyward together with Yang Yang.
The passion for sports isn’t only found on the field—it also flows into daily life. At the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, a “sports library” left a deep impression on Yang Yang. It doesn’t lend out books, but sports jerseys, shoes, and balls, helping to keep sporting dreams alive in the camp.
Yang Yang said that sports ignite hope for people facing difficult conditions in the camps. For many young refugees with limited access to education and work, sports fill a void and positively shape their growth. Football leagues not only help refugees integrate into local communities but also—through their fixed schedules—bring order, purpose, and a sense of anticipation. For the more vulnerable women in the camps, forming football teams, training, and playing matches have helped build their confidence, foster mutual support networks, and empower them.
These experiences have led Yang Yang to realize that the value of sports goes beyond chasing gold medals and glory—it also includes building community connections and inspiring personal growth.
“They need help, but even more, they need inspiration,” Yang Yang said. She believes sports inspire people to chase their dreams even in hardship. Athletes from the Kakuma Refugee Camp, after a rigorous selection process and intense training, have competed in the Rio and Tokyo Olympic Games. In middle- and long-distance events, they pushed their personal limits again and again. Although many were eliminated in the first round, Yang Yang believes that their presence on the Olympic stage “tells the best story”—inspiring not only refugees in similar plight, but anyone around the world confronting their own challenges.
“They possess just as much dreams, potential, and determination as any of us. The creativity and resilience they demonstrate deserve respect and admiration, thereby sending a message of inspiration and hope to the world.”
Yang Yang’s stories from the camps have resonated with her colleagues across Chinese and international sports organizations. In fact, one friend has even asked her, “Can I join you next time?” Yang Yang hopes to bring back more refugee stories—to help the world see them, and to let them feel the world’s appreciation.
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