Rio 2016: Can these refugee athletes play in the Olympics? | CNN

William Kopati, 22, was a high-jumper and long-jumper in Bangui. That was before he was forced to flee in late March 2013, when militants attacked the house where he was living.

Since 2006, Kopati has competed several times in the national championships for high jump, long jump and 400-meter run -- winning the gold medal for high-jump in 2009.

"In 2009, I won the gold medal in long jump in the national championships. I cleared 1.7 meters. I entered my last competition in 2012, before I was forced to flee."

This is the second time Kopati has fled to the DRC, having been a refugee from 2001 to 2003. His dream is to continue his career in athletics, despite the challenges.

"I was here in Mole from 2001 to 2003. I attended primary school here and went to high school when I returned to Bangui. I love it so much, but I had to abandon it because of the situation in my country. My first dream is to continue with athletics."

UNHCR/Brian Sokol

Teddy Gossengha, 23, was once the youngest player on the CAR junior national soccer team, and then played for professional clubs in Bangui -- first Tempete Mocaf, then ASOPT -- before fleeing violence two years ago.

Now, as president of the soccer team in Mole camp, Gossengha is intent on sharing his knowledge and skills with others. But the camp is taking its toll on his skills.

"I've lost almost two years. I would like to develop my sporting talent, because I don't know when the war will finish. The more I stay here, the more I will lose my talent."

Martial Nantouna, 36, won the national championship in karate for his age group in 1998 and 2000, and was named runner-up for all of Africa in 1998. <br /><br />"My best performance was at the Africa championship. I brought back two medals: the silver medal for the individual games and the bronze medal for the team. I am still on the national team."

Martial Nantouna, 36, won the national championship in karate for his age group in 1998 and 2000, and was named runner-up for all of Africa in 1998.

"My best performance was at the Africa championship. I brought back two medals: the silver medal for the individual games and the bronze medal for the team. I am still on the national team."

UNHCR/Brian Sokol

Nantouna was living in Miskin, a neighborhood in Bangui, when he heard gunshots on December 15, 2013 and fled to the airport. After three months there he crossed the river and made his way to Mole refugee camp, where he reunited with his wife and children.

"I never go out of Mole," says Martial "I am scared. I ask God to bring peace back to my country."

Nantouna excels at soccer as well as karate. He used to play for the team DFC8, playing with international stars like Foxi Kethevoama. <br /><br />"My dream is to continue my sports practice," he says. "I want to become like Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto'o."

Nantouna excels at soccer as well as karate. He used to play for the team DFC8, playing with international stars like Foxi Kethevoama.

"My dream is to continue my sports practice," he says. "I want to become like Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto'o."

In Mole refugee camp, Nantouna offers free karate classes three times a week. He is hoping that peace will return soon, allowing him to go home and resume his athletic career.

Nadine Adremane, 27, started playing soccer when she was 16, and was eventually selected for the women's national team, where she played for three years.

"My best memory is when I received the silver medal in the national championship. I scored the goal that qualified my team."

UNHCR/Brian Sokol

Because there's no professional league for women in CAR, Adremane turned to refereeing games in Bangui and was in the process of qualifying as an international referee before she was forced to flee. She still does not know if she passed.

"There were four of us doing the tests [to become international referees], but I am the only one who came here. I am not in touch with the others. I will go again to the cybercafe and send them an email."

Jason Nyakouna, 32, played for Tempete Mocaf, a first-division soccer club in Bangui, and then for Kpètene Star, before he fled the CAR on December 5, 2013.

"I went to play competitions in Sao Tome, Nigeria, Guinea and Cameroon. After that I went to play for Kpetene Star. The team was in the second division, and I helped them join the first division."

Fleeing to the Mole refugee camp, Nyakouna left behind all his gear and photos of his triumphs. Now he trains young refugees at Mole camp.<br /><br />"I do that for free because I love football," he says. "I want to improve the level of soccer players in Mole. I want to become a famous trainer, like Jose Mourinho, who trains the team of Chelsea."

Fleeing to the Mole refugee camp, Nyakouna left behind all his gear and photos of his triumphs. Now he trains young refugees at Mole camp.

"I do that for free because I love football," he says. "I want to improve the level of soccer players in Mole. I want to become a famous trainer, like Jose Mourinho, who trains the team of Chelsea."

Herman Ouagondas, 19, joined CAR soccer club Video at age 15. He fled Bangui when his house was attacked and looted. Still scared by conditions back home, he does not want to return before peace has been restored.

UNHCR/Brian Sokol

Now a refugee in Mole camp, Ouagondas doesn't see his refugee status as a barrier to his success.<br /><br />"I want to become like [Liberian soccer player] George Weah. He learned [soccer] in his country but was forced to flee. He continued even if he was a refugee and was selected by famous teams. I want to be like the famous football players I see on TV."

Now a refugee in Mole camp, Ouagondas doesn't see his refugee status as a barrier to his success.

"I want to become like [Liberian soccer player] George Weah. He learned [soccer] in his country but was forced to flee. He continued even if he was a refugee and was selected by famous teams. I want to be like the famous football players I see on TV."

Refugee camp Olympians

CNN —

It was March 2013 when militants attacked the home of athlete William Kopati.

The 22-year old high-jumper and long-jumper was the Central African Republic’s (CAR) national champion in 2009. But then the war came.

“I entered my last competition in 2012 before I was forced to flee.” Kopati left his home on March 28, 2013 – leaving everything behind, including, he thought, his chances of an Olympic career.

“My first dream is to continue with athletics,” admits Kopati. “I love it so much, but I had to abandon it because of the situation in my country.”

Recapturing a dream?

Until October, Kopati, and countless other athletes in exile would not have stood a chance at making it to the Olympic games in Rio. That’s because refugees weren’t allowed to play.

“At present none of these athletes would have the chance to participate in the Olympic Games even if qualified from the sports point of view because, with their refugee status, they are left without a home country and National Olympic Committee to represent,” admitted Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee in a speech last month. In the same announcement, he gave athletes like Kopati hope, revealing that – in a year in which the numbers of refugees worldwide is the highest in recorded history (19.5 million according to UNHCR) – refugee athletes would be welcome at Rio.

“Having no national team to belong to, having no flag to march behind, having no national anthem to be played, these refugee athletes will be welcomed to the Olympic Games with the Olympic flag and with the Olympic anthem,” he said.

A long way off

For many of the athletes who fled their home, however, the announcement was small solace.

Kopati now lives in Mole refugee camp, one of an unlikely crew of sports stars in exile. A lucky few managed to grab a photo album or a medal as they fled. Others have only their memories. All have left behind the studios, trainers and equipment – not to mention the training regime – that could have made them great.

“I hear the announcements of the president of the karate federation on Radio Bangui. When I hear him, I don’t feel good, because before we [used to be] together,” says CAR karate champion Martial Nantouna.

“I wonder whether [in future] our karate federation in Mole could join the national karate federation in Kinshasa and join the DRC national championship.”

Professional soccer players Teddy Gossengha and Nadine Adremane are among a group of sport stars that have found safety and shelter in the northern reaches of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), at the Mole refugee camp.

More than two hours by road from the closest Congolese town, Zongo – the camp continues to provide a safe haven to refugees from the CAR. Since December 2013 the camp has taken in over 17,000 new arrivals – only a fraction of the 800,000 that have been displaced since rebels took control of large parts of the country.

“I’ve lost almost two years. I would like to develop my sporting talent, because I don’t know when the war will finish. The more I stay here, the more I will lose my talent,” says Gossengha.

With civil unrest ongoing in the CAR, the Olympic Games seem a long way away to the athletes housed at the Mole refugee camp. But despite their desperate situation, they do their best to stay fit, practice their sport and help train up younger refugees.

Karate champion Nantouna, for one, still has some fight left in him.

“I ask God to bring peace back to my country.” he says.

“But I am still on the national team. If someone tells me to go to the mat, I will go.”

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Rio 2016: They fled their homes. Can these refugee athletes play in the Olympics?

Refugee camp Olympians

Recapturing a dream?

A long way off