In a moving display of solidarity and hope, Yang Yang, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees and former Chinese Olympic champion, visited the Bambasi and Sherkole refugee camps near the Ethiopia-Sudan border on Sept. 23–24, where she helped spark a friendly football match between refugees and host communities.
On a field of dusty earth, with crude goalposts and a boundary line drawn in lime, the passion was real. “It felt just like a world championship,” Yang remarked, praising how sports unite communities, uplift spirits, and foster inclusion. She spoke of sports as more than competition, a bridge for healing, integration, and resilience in displacement.
By participating actively and celebrating the refugee team’s 2-0 win, Yang embodied her philosophy: sports can inspire hope even in adversity. She emphasized that whether on an Olympic podium or a grassroots match in a camp, the energy, discipline, and community it builds matter deeply.
Her visit also included engagement with youth and students in Sherkole, where she shared her own journey from humble beginnings, underscoring that holding a dream can light the way through hardship.
Yang’s role as UNHCR ambassador builds on a legacy: the former short-track speed skating star became China’s first Winter Olympic gold medallist in 2002 and has won 59 world titles. She has since transitioned her influence to social impact, advocating for refugees through sport, education, and storytelling.
In these remote camps, her message resonates: sports can heal bodies, unite communities, and revive hope, a powerful tool in the journey toward dignity, integration, and a future no longer defined by displacement.
