The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Refugee Olympic Team athletes from across the globe will have the backing of an entire continent and beyond for Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

In a new campaign launched today, discovery+, the Streaming Home of the Olympics in Europe, and Eurosport* are calling on millions of fans from throughout the continent to rally behind the IOC Refugee Olympic Team. The campaign encourages viewers to be part of a ‘home crowd’ for the team during Tokyo 2020 by sending a message to the team’s athletes.

You can pledge your message of support across social media using the #refugeeolympicteam on Twitter and TikTok , as well as dedicated Instagram stickers and a sound-activated Snapchat lens on those platforms. The messages of goodwill will be amplified far and wide on discovery+ and Eurosport’s on-air, streaming and social accounts, as well as by those of its partners. As the exclusive home of every unmissable moment from Tokyo 2020, discovery+ and Eurosport* will be the only place in Europe to watch every moment of the team competing live.

Taken together, the messages will champion the refugee athletes who inspire the world with the strength of their human spirit and represent over 80 million forcibly displaced people around the globe. The IOC Refugee Olympic Team Tokyo 2020 brings together 29 athletes originating from 11 countries around the world. The team was created by the IOC and its President, Thomas Bach, ahead of Olympic Games Rio 2016 and is its commitment to stand with refugees and support them through sport. It also shows how Olympic Solidarity, through its Refugee Athlete Support Programme, helps refugee athletes not only to train with the aim of qualifying for Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 but also to continue their sporting career and build their future.

Sophie Long, VP Marketing, Discovery Sports, said: “In what has been an incredibly challenging time for millions of people across the globe, Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 can bring inspiration and hope to all our communities. The IOC Refugee Olympic Team brings to life exactly what the spirit of the Games is all about and the IOC deserves immense credit for empowering these athletes to push the boundaries of what is achievable. This campaign is discovery+ and Eurosport’s mission to unite fans across the world in celebration of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team, supporting both the cause and people it champions.

“Through our partnership with the IOC, we are privileged to champion the team, made up of extraordinary and inspirational athletes who have put hope above adversity to reach the world’s biggest sporting stage. Sport has a unique ability to unite people in celebration of human achievements and we pride ourselves on telling these stories that unlock the power of sport, such as those perfectly embodied by the IOC Refugee Olympic Team.”

The multi-platform campaign has kicked off with a film to invite viewers to support the team and  was developed together with creative agency R/GA. It complements a host of new content that celebrates the values of the Refugee Olympic Team. Eurosport’s popular Trailblazers series has launched a dedicated episode telling the story of Syrian refugee, and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, Yusra Mardini highlighting her astonishing journey from fleeing via a boat to Greece to competing at Rio 2016.

discovery+ and Eurosport have already been working in partnership with the IOC and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to raise awareness of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team Tokyo 2020 through ‘In Conversation’. The exclusive series of interviews tell the inspirational stories of the athletes by bringing them together with big names in film, entertainment and sport. The conversations seek to introduce the athletes to new audiences and provide new perspectives on refugees’ stories, raising awareness of the power of sport to help displaced people rebuild their lives. 

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*Excludes Russia. Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be available to watch on discovery+ in Denmark, Finland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Spain and the United Kingdom. In all other European markets, except Russia, Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be available on Eurosport. Discovery is an Official Broadcaster in France and the United Kingdom for Tokyo 2020.

‘In Conversation’:
discovery+ and Eurosport has been working in partnership with the IOC and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency to raise awareness of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team Tokyo 2020 through ‘In Conversation’. Featuring Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR and IOC Olympic Refugee Team athlete, Yusra Mardini with US Olympian and 5-time gold medallist Katie Ledecky; IOC Olympic Refugee Team athletes Anjelina Nadai Lohalith and Alaa Maso, together with UNHCR Goodwill Ambassadors Nomzamo Mbatha and Alphonso Davies respectively.

About Discovery’s Olympic Games Coverage:
As the Home of the Olympics in Europe, discovery+ and Eurosport* will be the only place to watch every unmissable moment from the Games, with Discovery’s localised coverage bringing fans closer to their national heroes than ever before. Fans will also be able to watch the action they want the way they want it, meaning that they won’t miss any of the 339 events across the 33 different sports that matter to them across online, mobile or connected TVs.