IOC establishes $2 million fund for refugee aid
The International Olympic Committee will establish a $2 million fund dedicated to refugee aid, reports the Associated Press.
IOC President Thomas Bach announced the fund's creation on Friday, saying that the Olympic Movement wanted to take part in humanitarian efforts to assist the refugee crisis in the Middle East, Africa and Europe.
“We know through experience that sport can ease the plight of refugees, many of them young people and children,” Bach said. “Our thoughts are with the many refugees risking their lives and the lives of their families to escape danger.”
The IOC will donate $1 million to the fund, and an additional $1 million will come from the Olympic Solidarity program. The money will be used by the IOC and national Olympic committees to create programs to help refugees and migrants.
The IOC has a long-standing relationship with the United Nationals and its High Commissioner for Refugees.
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