"We're convinced this refugee Olympic team can send a symbol of hope to all refugees in the world," IOC President Thomas Bach said at the close of a three-day IOC executive board meeting in Lausanne. The members of the first ever Olympic refugee team include athletes from South Sudan, Syria, Congo and Ethiopia who will compete in track and field, swimming and judo. Officially called the Refugee Olympic Team (ROT), the athletes will walk into the opening ceremony just ahead of the huge team from Brazil, the host nation that marches last in the parade of athletes from more than 200 countries. The addition of eight new members would bring the total number of IOC members to 99.Notable were two names not on the list: IAAF President Sebastian Coe and FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Five coaches and five other team officials were also named by the IOC.

Source: Fox News June 03, 2016 13:37 UTC