Refugees from the Syrian civil war to debut at the Olympics
The judo competitor successfully avoided conscription into the army during the Syrian civil war and will compete in the Paris Olympics.
It has been almost sixty years since Muhammad Ali defied his draft order to join the US military. His objection stemmed from his disapproval of the nation’s involvement in the Vietnam War.
Ali questioned, “Why must Black people like me and others be forced to leave our homes in America? Why are we being sent 10,000 miles to use bombs and bullets against innocent people of color?
“In 1967, the authorities revoked the titles from Ali. Consequently, the court sentenced him to five years in prison and imposed a three-year ban from boxing. Still, he was a well-known supporter of the anti-war movement. Additionally, he was ready to publicly express his beliefs in the US. Ali’s influence and actions are still significant today.
Olympic debut in Paris
Adnan Khankan, who will compete in judo at the Olympics in Paris later this month, gave a very positive speech. He appreciated someone who dared to say no. This person’s strength moved him. Former Olympian Ali accomplished the feat of winning a gold medal in 1960.
Khankan is a member of the Refugee Team and will compete in the Olympics. The Refugee Team represents the International Olympic Committee (IOC) during the Games. As members of the Refugee Team, thirty-six athletes—among them Khankan—will participate in 12 different sports at the Olympics.
Khankan, a thirty-year-old, currently resides in Cologne, Germany. His hometown is Syria’s capital city of Damascus. In 2015, he escaped his nation after the military-drafted him into Bashar al-Assad’s army, placing him in a challenging situation. He had to leave because the civil war in Syria was getting out of hand.
Khankan was now a resident of Cologne, Germany. Ali inspired him, and he referred to Ali as a great man.
He decided to stay out of the Syrian civil war. The fighting claimed the lives of more than 300,000 civilians. There is still fighting in the area.
The backdrop of the Syrian civil war: The Syrian Army conscripts individuals.
“I never thought of it as a conflict I had. Given that it involved Syrians killing other Syrians, how could it be? Recalling the day when military recruiters showed up at his family’s door, Khankan tells CNN Sport, “It didn’t make sense to me, and I made it clear that I wasn’t willing to participate.”
I questioned why I felt compelled to take the lives of my people. For me, there is no meaning in war. I was determined to avoid involvement in it.
In 2011, the Syrian Civil War broke out. Experts currently recognize it as the largest humanitarian disaster since World War II, uprooting millions of people.
Initially, the broader Arab Spring movement influenced the protestors in the region. They urged the administration, led by Bashar Al-Assad since 2000, to implement legal changes. They demanded the release of political prisoners as well.
The Al-Assad Syrian Army brutally suppressed the calls for reform. This resulted in the Free Syrian Army’s formation. One of the longest conflicts of the twenty-first century has been sparked by these events.
Living in a place like Syria robs you of the ability to say no. Khankan claims that you have no choice but to follow whatever the government orders.
Loss of friends due to the Syrian civil war
Khankan lost his closest friends during the two years of fighting because of the civil war in Syria.As a result, he saw a significant shift in his understanding of the Syrian situation. He was not affected by the war, even though his family initially protected him from its harsh realities. But in 2013, everything was different for him.
“I was training at the national sports complex, and it started like any other day,” recalls Khankan. “A national taekwondo team athlete and one of my closest friends were having breakfast together.
Two hours later, I heard a loud bang after we both went to different parts of the complex for training. I found out later that there had been a blast. While everyone attempted to determine what had caused it, there was a great deal of fear and confusion. There was mayhem.
Khankan became aware that his own life might not be guaranteed after finding out that his friend had perished in the explosion. He could equally as easily suffer the same fate at any time.
A treacherous trip to safety
Khankan, an internationally competitive national judo athlete, was given a six-month reprieve from conscription. But after his friend died, he decided to leave.
At the age of 21, he embarked on a month-long journey towards Europe in the fall of 2015. Among other ways, he went by bus, train, car, truck, and foot.
Khankan traveled through Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia, and Bulgaria along the well-known “Balkan Way,” which leads into Turkey. Unfortunately, he was without the proper identification. For this reason, he was apprehended at the Hungary border.
My life was completely turned upside down in a matter of weeks. I lost everything I owned and gained nothing at all. Unable to ask for assistance or communicate, I ended up in a strange country,” Khankan recalls.
I was given the option to go back to Syria by the authorities after they had held me for three nights. Or I could stay in a camp for refugees for six months while my case was being handled. I chose to spend six months in a camp for German refugees. A few months after I left Syria, my family fled to Cairo, Khankan said.
The Olympic dream comes to an end.
Khankan was unable to stay in shape in the camp or train as a judoka, which ended his Olympic dreams. It was only a few months until the Rio Olympics when he was free again in early 2016.
He watched the Maracanã Stadium opening ceremony while lounging on a sofa.
According to Khankan, “even though I had made it to safety, all I could think about at that moment was the loss of my dream.”
“When you train for something every day for 20 years and then find it’s not going to happen, that’s a lot to deal with.” Despite my constant tears, I forced myself to watch every day of the Games.”
Yusra Mardini, a fellow athlete from Syria who competed for the IOC refugee team in Rio, inspired Khankan. He pledged to work tirelessly to earn a spot on the Tokyo 2020 squad.
Khankan said that learning that there was a team of refugees was a great source of inspiration. To compete in the upcoming Games, he committed himself to intense training, sometimes working out two or three times a day.
Khankan began to rise through the ranks in spite of the absence of official backing, which improved his prospects of making it to the Japan Games.
However, the Covid-19 pandemic quickly expanded throughout Europe at the beginning of 2020. Adnan’s dreams of competing in his first Olympics were dashed when he was unable to travel due to Germany’s stringent adherence to Covid protocols.
Arrival of opportunity
Adnan’s chance to receive training funding materialized despite his attempts to obtain it; it was due to an email he sent to Marius Vizer, President of the International Judo Federation (IJF). That helped him receive the necessary support to pursue his Olympic aspirations.
In an interview with CNN Sport, IJF President Vizer characterized Adnan as a committed, passionate, and kind judoka.
One of the main tenets of the International Judo Federation’s mission is to assist and collaborate with refugee athletes. I understand their struggles and the pain they go through because I was a refugee once. Not only can sports help to foster peace, but they can also help people better themselves and live better lives.
The number of displaced people is increasing at the moment due to the intensifying conflicts in Sudan, Gaza, and the Ukraine. In the course of the European elections, right-wing candidates hostile to immigration gained more support. Khankan highlights that, like everyone else, refugees are “ordinary individuals.”
A record 114 million people were displaced in the last year, according to UNHCR.
The misconceptions regarding refugees persist
Regarding how refugees are portrayed in the media in Germany and throughout Europe, Khankan voiced concerns. They are frequently portrayed there as dangerous and undeserving of attention. Misconceptions about their character are fostered by this portrayal.
When people with refugee backgrounds commit transgressions: It’s critical to keep in mind that not all refugees have the same tendencies: However, some people might draw broad conclusions and categorize all refugees according to the deeds of a select few. I think it is unfair to exclude other groups of people from this kind of generalization. We have the chance to change this prevailing image and perception through the platform of sports, and the Olympic Games can be a great way to spread this message.
Suffering of Refugees
“People who flee their home countries in search of refugee status may end up in camps for refugees in Africa or the Middle East. The refugees in these areas are frequently undernourished and ill-clothed. It may appear as though there is little to no hope for them. I hope that they will understand that there are opportunities to improve their situation and give them a better future through sports and the IOC’s refugee initiative.
Existence of the Olympic Refugee Team
According to Khankan, the Olympic Refugee Team should silence those who advocate against refugees.
The refugee team members speak different languages. Their cultural backgrounds are diverse and they come from different ethnic groups. Despite these distinctions, we function as a cohesive team. Alongside my fellow Syrians are my allies from Cuba, Afghanistan, Iran, and other countries.
Our group stands for all of these difficult situations. I think it’s important to spread the word that standing together makes us stronger and allows us to achieve amazing things.
The refugee team members speak different languages. Their cultural backgrounds are diverse and they come from different ethnic groups. In spite of these distinctions, we function as a cohesive team. Alongside my fellow Syrians are my allies from Cuba, Afghanistan, Iran, and other countries.
Our group stands for all of these difficult situations. I think it’s important to spread the word that standing together makes us stronger and allows us to achieve amazing things.
“Being here feels strange, especially after losing nearly everything.” Living in a safe and opportunity-rich country and competing in the Olympics makes me feel like I’ve already won a gold medal every day.”
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