RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Of the nearly 4,000 athletes competing in the Rio Paralympics, all but two are doing so for their country.
Syrian swimmer Ibrahim Al Hussein and Iranian-born discus thrower Shahrad Nasajpour make up the first refugee team at the Paralympics.
"All the years I dedicated to sports did not go in vain," said Al Hussein, who lost part of his right leg in a bombing in his Syrian hometown.
"I think we were trying to show that the values that the (Paralympics) holds is to provide opportunities regardless of the circumstances of individuals with impairments," said chef de mission Tony Sainsbury, regarding the creation of the refugee team.