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Syria refugee carries Olympic flame though migrant camp in Greece | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A Syrian refugee who was a sportsman before losing part of his leg in a bombing is carrying the Olympic flame through an Athens refugee camp. | |
Ibrahim al-Hussein, who has been given asylum in Greece, is bearing the torch through Eleonas camp. | |
The 27-year-old electrician used to swim and do judo competitively in Syria. | The 27-year-old electrician used to swim and do judo competitively in Syria. |
He is among more than one million migrants to have entered the EU, crossing to Greece by inflatable boat. | He is among more than one million migrants to have entered the EU, crossing to Greece by inflatable boat. |
Mr al-Hussein now has a prosthetic leg, works in an Athens cafe and plays wheelchair basketball. | Mr al-Hussein now has a prosthetic leg, works in an Athens cafe and plays wheelchair basketball. |
He can swim 50m (yards) in 28 seconds, three seconds off his personal best before the injury, and will compete in the Greek disabled swimming championship in June. | He can swim 50m (yards) in 28 seconds, three seconds off his personal best before the injury, and will compete in the Greek disabled swimming championship in June. |
He told AFP news agency it was an honour to carry the flame. | He told AFP news agency it was an honour to carry the flame. |
"I am carrying the flame for myself but also for Syrians, for refugees everywhere, for Greece, for sports, for my swimming and basketball teams," he said. | "I am carrying the flame for myself but also for Syrians, for refugees everywhere, for Greece, for sports, for my swimming and basketball teams," he said. |
"My goal is to never give up. But to go on, to always go forward. And that I can achieve through sports." | "My goal is to never give up. But to go on, to always go forward. And that I can achieve through sports." |
'Olympic refugee team' | 'Olympic refugee team' |
Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has said a team of up to 10 refugees will take part at the Rio Olympics. | Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has said a team of up to 10 refugees will take part at the Rio Olympics. |
A selection process is due to take place in June, AFP quoted a UNHCR official as saying. | A selection process is due to take place in June, AFP quoted a UNHCR official as saying. |
The Olympic flame was lit last week in the 2,600-year-old Temple of Hera at Ancient Olympia. | The Olympic flame was lit last week in the 2,600-year-old Temple of Hera at Ancient Olympia. |
On Wednesday it will be handed over to Brazilian officials in a ceremony at the historic Olympic stadium in Athens, site of the first modern Games in 1896. | On Wednesday it will be handed over to Brazilian officials in a ceremony at the historic Olympic stadium in Athens, site of the first modern Games in 1896. |
Some 12,000 torchbearers will then carry the flame through Brazil before the Games start in August. | Some 12,000 torchbearers will then carry the flame through Brazil before the Games start in August. |