IOC-Led Effort Restores Stadium Near Refugee Camp

(ATR) A stadium used by refugees on the Greek island of Lesvos was restored from an IOC-backed financial effort.

The IOC and the municipality of Lesvos contributed to the stadium’s restoration in the village of Moria. Local teams based on the island use the stadium to train, as do sport programs based in the island’s refugee camps. The location of Lesvos near Turkey made it an ideal entry point into the European Union for refugees fleeing the Syrian Civil War.

Tens of thousands of refugees crossed into Lesvos between 2015-16, and according to recent reports nearly 5,000 refugees remain on the island in Moria. The project came to the attention of the IOC from invitation of Hellenic Olympic Committee President Spyros Capralos.

On Oct. 1 IOC member and UN Permanent Observer Mario Pescante, HOC President Capralos, Mayor of Lesvos Spyros Galinos, and Greek sailors Panayiotis Mantis and Pavlos Kagialis visited the stadium. Capralos described the completed project to Greek TV as "a beautiful playground for the teams of neighboring villages, but also for refugees." In addition to refurbishing the stadium the group visited the Kara Tepe refugee camp passing out sports equipment.

At the stadium Pescante told local television crews that he believed this project would encourage others to visit refugee camps and encourage investment in facilities there. He likened the situation in Lesvos to that of Lampedusa in Italy, which has become another entry point for migrants into the European Union.

"I understand the importance to stand by the local societies for their sacrifices during all this time of the refugee crisis," Pescante was quoted as saying. "I must point out that Greece and Italy sometimes feel left alone in facing this crisis, as some countries in Europe have erected security walls and do not help as much as they should.

"I fully understand the feelings of the island residents and this is why we are also here, to show our understanding and solidarity."

Galinos was quoted as saying that Pescante expressed willingness from the IOC to continue funding the upkeep of the stadium. The IOC recently announced the creation of the Olympic Refuge Foundation, which will work to fund refugee oriented sport projects worldwide.

"Today we are happy to see that the football stadium is almost completed; there is still some repair work to be done," Galinos said. "We have also discussed with Mr. Pescante and Spyros Capralos our plans to deepen our cooperation in financing and supporting sport infrastructure and sport programs to the great benefit of both the local communities and the refugees."

Written by Aaron Bauer

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