Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is rallying European Olympic fans to support the Refugee Olympic Team as they prepare to compete in Paris this summer. The team was first established in Rio 2016 by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach in recognition of Olympic Solidarity. With over 114 million people globally forcibly displaced, the need for support for refugee athletes has never been greater. WBD is urging fans to back the team on their journey to Paris and beyond while also offering assistance to vulnerable communities.
WBD’s Group SVP Content, Production and Business Operations, Scott Young, emphasized the ability of sports to unite communities and celebrate human achievements. The company aims to use its international reach to promote the power of sport in helping displaced people and vulnerable communities reshape their futures. Yusra Mardini, an inspirational athlete who competed at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 and is a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, has been announced as the Eurosport Reporter for the Refugee Olympic Team. Mardini will provide live coverage at Paris 2024, sharing the stories of refugee athletes with a global audience.
To elevate the stories of refugee athletes and connect with new fans, WBD is launching a campaign featuring a short film showcasing refugee athletes competing in an empty stadium. The film aims to inspire viewers to create a new ‘Home Crowd’ to support the athletes as they gear up to compete in Paris. WBD plans to amplify these stories across its international channels, platforms, and digital sites, providing a platform for refugees’ voices to be heard. Additionally, documentaries such as ‘We Dare to Dream,’ directed by Oscar nominee Waad Al-Kateab, will be available on Discovery+ and other platforms, shedding light on the challenges faced by refugee athletes.
WBD is committed to supporting vulnerable communities and using sport and storytelling to raise awareness of refugee causes. In 2023, the company signed The Multistakeholder Pledge on Sport for Inclusion and Protection of Refugees at the UNHCR Global Refugee Forum, promoting access to sports for displaced people and host communities to foster more inclusive societies. As the streaming home of the Olympic Games, discovery+ will be the go-to platform to watch every moment of Paris 2024 this summer.
The IOC’s Refugee Olympic Team has been selected largely from 73 Refugee Athlete Scholarship holders. WBD is dedicated to generating mass support for these athletes as they head to Paris 2024. In addition to Mardini, other initiatives will be announced to further engage audiences and amplify the stories of refugee athletes leading up to the Games. The goal is to ensure these athletes have the backing of a ‘Home Crowd’ as they compete on one of the world’s biggest stages in Paris this summer. Through storytelling and the power of sport, WBD aims to shed light on the challenges faced by refugees and offer a platform for their voices to be heard and ultimately supported.
