Just like the Summer Olympic Games, the ongoing 2016 Paralympic Games has a team of refugees participating in the event.
The Independent Paralympic Athletes (IPA) team has its own flag and was involved in the colourful opening ceremony in which all teams paraded in front of the excited crowd.
The team’s travel and other expenses is covered by the International Paralympic Committee, and the athletes stay in the Athletes village.
This is the first time that para-athletes with refugee and asylee status have received special recognition.
Just like the Olympics refugee team, the IPA team is meant to bring the world’s attention to the plight of refugees who have risked their lives to escape violence, persecution, disasters and other issues in the countries.
