Inspired By A Life Jacket, The Refugee Flag Created For The Olympics Is A Beautiful Symbol Of Hope

While we celebrate the record-breaking performances at the Olympics and eagerly await India winning a medal, our heart goes out to the group of refugees competing at Rio. Literally swimming against odds, 10 athletes walked under the Olympic flag with pride as they showed themselves to the world during the Parade of Nations. And now, The Refugee Nation, a relatively new organisation, has created a flag that these refugees can call their own.

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The black and orange

10 athletes, with no country to represent and no national anthem to call their own, have finally found a flag they would be proud to drape. Designed by artist and Syrian refugee, Yara Said, and reminiscent of a life jacket, the black and orange colours of the flag are meant to be a "symbol of solidarity for all those who crossed the sea in search of a new home," said Yara, who had to leave her own country to look for a safer place to live in. "I myself wore one, which is why I so identify with these colours," she added.

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Facebook/ The Refugee Nation

The anthem

An anthem has been created for them as well. Written by a music composer and an unfortunate Syrian refugee who is currently based out of Istanbul, Moutaz Arian had no choice left but to leave his own country after being threatened to be drafted into Assad's army.

Acceptance is still awaited

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is yet to sanction the flag, but The Refugee Nation has been distributing the flags all around Rio so people can cheer for them. They even managed to pass on a few flags to some of the athletes in the team. Popole Misenga and Yolande Mabika, representing the refugee team, also said how proud they were to represent the flag in a video posted on Refugee Nation's Facebook page. To introduce the flag to them, they were also given a letter written by Said which reads, "To all refugees athletes. I know how hard is to be a refugee and face really hard circumstances. That¡¯s why you refugee athletes competing at the Olympic Games should be really, really proud of yourselves. You¡¯re all examples of other people. You¡¯re proving now that human beings are really strong creatures. This flag is my sincere tribute to you and all refugees in the world.¡±

A petition has also been filed on Change.org for the IOC to let the Refugee Olympic Team carry the flag in the competition.

You can check out the Refugee Nation website here, and show that you stand by them right here.