A new team titled Refugee Olympic Athletes was introduced by the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee. The team of Refugee Olympic Athletes will be treated similar like all the other 206 teams at the Olympic Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro. Explicit details about the operational aspects of the new team were also provided by the Executive Board. The team Refugee Olympic Athletes will receive its welcome ceremony like others. The new team will then be housed. The Olympic flag and the Olympic Anthem will be raised for officially representing the new formed Refugee Olympic Athletes team.
The International Olympic Committee is said to provide team uniforms as well as appoint a team associate to fulfill the technical requirements of the athletes. At the opening ceremony, the Refugee Olympic Athletes team will march behind the host team. The Executive Board also guarantees an adequate insurance policy for the team. The International Olympic Committee will ensure a stringent doping control process through the World Anti-Doping Agency. The travel and participation expenses for the Refugee Olympic Athletes team will be met by the Olympic Solidarity. The new team for Rio Olympics 2016 is anticipated to comprise five to ten athletes.
The National Olympic Committee are in the process of identifying refugee athletes affected by the worldwide refugee crisis. Such eligible athletes would then be sponsored by the Olympic Solidarity to enhance their qualification and preparation for the Olympics. The nomination criteria for selecting athletes into the team would be based on their sporting levels, personal situation and background analysis. After an official refugee status verification by the United Nations, the athletes are officially chosen. Thomas Bach, the president of International Olympic Committee welcomed the team of Refugee Olympic Athletes to Rio Olympics 2016. This has created a hope amongst all refugees.
Zika virus, first isolated in Uganda in the year 1947 is spread by mosquitoes. Previously, Zika outbreaks were recorded in Asia, Africa, the Pacific regions and in America which led to the declaration of a global medical emergency by the World Health Organization. High fever, rashes, joint pain and conjunctivitis are the most common symptoms associated with the Zika virus infection. As per the reports from the Centers for Disease Control, the symptoms last only for two to seven days and are typically mild. However, Zika virus can result in a congenital condition called microcephaly in infants which can result in death.
With the spread of Zika virus, an increasing number of concerns have mounted over the conduct of Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. However, the director of Centers for Disease Control, Dr. Tom Friedan brought out that Zika virus does not pose a severe threat to the 80 percent of the population except for infants and children less than 5 years of age. Adults who acquire the Zika infection experience only mild to moderate symptoms. Pregnant women should avoid traveling to countries where Zika virus transmission is high. Tom Friedan also added that there are no vaccines or medicines to treat the Zika virus.