5. The first-ever Olympic team comprising of refugees from 6 countries.
The Rio Olympics showed the world the right way when for the first time in Olympic history, a team of refugees participated in Rio. Its official name was the Refugee Olympic Team (ROT). The International Olympic Committee (IOC) selected the 10 athletes from more than 40 candidates based on sporting skill, verified refugee status, and personal background.
The teammates originally hailed from four of the world’s most troubled hotspots: Syria, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.