Paralympics 2021
Bayern star Alphonso Davies writes emotional letter to refugee team
Bayern – Start Alphonso Davies. He sent an emotional message to the refugee team of the Paralympics
At the start of the Paralympics, Bavarian star Alphonso Davies has written an emotional letter to the Refugees team at the Paralympics. Davies was born in a refugee camp himself.
In the coming weeks, around 4,400 athletes will take part in 22 sports at the Paralympics. For the Refugees team of the Paralympics, the Games started with a very special message: Bayern star and UNHCR Ambassador Alphonso Davies addressed them in a letter and emphasized their role in the Games.
Davies, who was himself born in a refugee camp in Ghana and spent his first five years of life there, wrote in his letter that not everyone would understand the journey that the refugee athletes have gone through. He added, ” But I understand it and it’s an important part of who I am today. I’ve read your stories and seen what lies behind you. You’re the bravest sports team in the world right now.”
Davies also stressed in his message how great the influence of the team is on other people: “You are role models now and have the opportunity to inspire other people. Make no mistake: what you will do in Tokyo will change the lives of other people.”
Young people in particular would look up to the athletes. “There will be young people who start sports because of you. Refugees will believe in themselves because they see you winning.”
Six athletes are represented in the refugee team of the Paralympics:taekwondo athlete Parfait Hakizimana (born in Burundi), canoeist Anas Al Khalifa and swimmer Ibrahim Al Hussein (both born in Syria), club thrower Alia Issa (Greece), discus thrower Shahrad Nasajpour (Iran) and swimmer Abbas Karimi (Afghanistan).
