Refugee team announced for Rio: 'We will offer them a home in the Olympic Village'

Ten refugee athletes are to take part in the Rio Olympic Games this summer to highlight the the plight of refugees around the world.

The athletes, named on Friday by the International Olympic Committee's Executive Board, will compete for the Refugee Olympic Team (ROT).

63 days to go! Good luck to the Refugee Olympic Team and all of the athletes training for the #Rio2016 #Olympicshttps://t.co/oLywU7IFzG

— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) June 3, 2016

They will march with the Olympic flag at the opening ceremony immediately before host nation Brazil and will have Kenya's former marathon world record holder Tegla Loroupe as chef de mission and Brazilian Isabela Mazao as deputy chef de mission.

A crew of five coaches and five other team officials will support the ROT, who were selected from 43 candidates proposed by National Olympic Committees who had identified them from refugees in their countries.

The athletes originate from Syria, South Sudan, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The ROT athletes will be housed in the Olympic Village and will wear uniforms provided by the IOC.

The Olympic flag will be raised and Olympic anthem played for any medal winners from the team, who will also be subject to proper doping controls provided by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

As part of the IOC's Olympic Solidarity programme the team members will be supported both before and after the Rio Games.

REFUGEE OLYMPIC TEAM TO SHINE SPOTLIGHT ON WORLDWIDE REFUGEE CRISIS https://t.co/BuumWU9GMp #RoadToRio #Olympics pic.twitter.com/2XpkgtFbEB

— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) June 3, 2016

IOC President Thomas Bach said: "These refugees have no home, no team, no flag, no national anthem.

"We will offer them a home in the Olympic Village together with all the athletes of the world. The Olympic anthem will be played in their honour and the Olympic flag will lead them into the Olympic Stadium.

"This will be a symbol of hope for all the refugees in our world, and will make the world better aware of the magnitude of this crisis. It is also a signal to the international community that refugees are our fellow human beings and are an enrichment to society.

"These refugee athletes will show the world that despite the unimaginable tragedies that they have faced, anyone can contribute to society through their talent, skills and strength of the human spirit."

The ROT athletes are:

Rami Anis (M): Country of origin - Syria; host NOC - Belgium; sport - swimming;

Yiech Pur Biel (M): Country of origin - South Sudan; host NOC - Kenya; sport - athletics, 800m;

James Nyang Chiengjiek (M): Country of origin - South Sudan; host NOC - Kenya; sport - athletics, 400m;

Yonas Kinde (M): Country of origin - Ethiopia; host NOC - Luxembourg; sport - athletics, marathon;

Anjelina Nada Lohalith (F): Country of origin - South Sudan; host NOC - Kenya; sport - athletics, 1500m;

Rose Nathike Lokonyen (F): Country of origin - South Sudan; host NOC - Kenya; sport - athletics, 800m;

Paulo Amotun Lokoro (M): Country of origin - South Sudan; host NOC - Kenya; sport - athletics, 1500m;

Yolande Bukasa Mabika (F): Country of origin - Democratic Republic of Congo; host NOC - Brazil; sport - judo, -70kg;

Yusra Mardini (F): Country of origin - Syria; host NOC - Germany; sport - swimming;

Popole Misenga (M): Country of origin - Democratic Republic of Congo; host NOC - Brazil; sport - judo, -90kg.