European Week of Sport 2024

This year's priorities

In 2024, the European Week of Sport will focus on inclusion, well-being, and belonging.

Inclusion

Sport is not just for athletes. You can take part regardless of your fitness level or background. Sport is inclusive and does not discriminate. No matter your gender, age, abilities, religion, ethnicity, education, or sexual orientation: sport is for everyone!

Well-being

Sport boosts self-esteem and promotes better health. Physical activity helps personal improvement and enhances overall well-being. When you play sports, you look good and feel good!

Belonging

Sport offers life opportunities and brings generations together. Everyone maintains their individuality while also sharing the EU and Olympic values of kindness, respect, and solidarity.

For more information about the European sports week

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Inspiring refugee athletes at the Paris Olympics

From boxer Cindy Ngamba earning their first-ever medal to Dominic Lobalu narrowly missing the podium in the men’s 5,000m, relive the standout moments of the 37-athlete IOC Refugee Olympic Team at Paris 2024. ‘Refugees are and can be an enrichment, not only for the Olympic movement but for all of society,’ said IOC President Thomas Bach.

Cindy Ngamba

Cindy Ngamba has been nominated for a Sporting Equals Sports woman of the Year award, following her historic bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

It has been quite the year for Ngamba, who wrote her name in the history books when she beat Davina Michel to reach the -75kg boxing semi-finals in August.

Her success meant that a bronze medal was secured, making her the first athlete from the Refugee Olympic Team to secure a medal of any colour at a Games.

“This means the world to me,” Ngamba said at the time of securing her medal.

“I want to tell the refugees around the world: keep on working hard, keep on pushing yourself and you can accomplish anything.”

Guillaume Junior Atangana

The vision impaired refugee athlete Guillaume Junior Atangana ran an outstanding race at Paris’ Stade de France on Sunday taking third place in the men’s 400m in a personal best time of 50:89, securing an historic second medal for the Refugee Paralympic Team.

Together with seven other Para athletes competing across six sports, Junior and his running partners are part of the largest-ever Refugee Paralympic Team, representing the hopes and dreams of 120 million forcibly displaced people around the world, including an estimated 18 million with disabilities.

“I am very happy to have this medal. It shows that the Paralympic movement is galvanising for refugees and it is an honour for me: I wrote my name in history,” said the sprinter, widely known as Junior. “The message I have for all refugees in the world is to believe in yourself!”

Zakia Khudadadi

Khudadadi earned bronze in the women’s K44 -47kg division at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, becoming the first Refugee Paralympic Team athlete to win a medal.

Just hours before her first bout at Paris 2024, Para taekwondo athlete Zakia Khudadadi told her coach that she would become a Paralympic medallist. She just did that, earning a bronze and becoming the first-ever Refugee Paralympic Team athlete to win a medal.

“I’m so, so happy. For me, this medal is a dream. Today, I am in a dream,” said Khudadadi, who competed in the women’s K44 -47kg category. “This is for me, like life.”

Dominic Lokinyomo Lobalu

Dominic’s big breakthrough came when he competed for the Refugee Olympic Team at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Although he didn’t secure a medal, his determination and story caught the attention of the world. His training paid off when, at the Paris 2024 Olympics, he competed in the men’s 5000 meters and came agonizingly close to a podium finish, placing 4th. Despite missing out on a medal by just seconds, his performance earned widespread admiration.

Throughout his journey, Dominic has used his platform to raise awareness about the struggles of refugees and to inspire others facing similar challenges. His story is one of hope, showing how sport can help transform lives, even in the most difficult circumstances.