Nazret Kobodom, a 16-year-old Eritrean asylum seeker in Israel, will compete at the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Baku this Summer.

It is the first time a refugee athlete will compete under the EOC flag at an EOC event.

The 2018 Israeli under-16 champion in cross country and 2,000 metres will travel to Azerbaijan with the Israeli Team.

“My family fled from Eritrea in 2011 and after a hard journey through Sudan and Egypt, we entered the State of Israel asking for asylum,” Kobodom said. “In May 2016 I joined Alley Athletics Club in Tel Aviv and am currently running for the club and for the school team in regional and national competitions in Israel.”

“I am training almost every afternoon and also attend personal tutoring in English and math in the club’s learning centre,” she added. “My dream is to participate in International competitions and become a professional athlete.”

During the parade of nations during the Opening Ceremony for Baku 2019, Kobodom will march under the EOC flag and, should she win any medals, will be awarded in her capacity as an EOC Refugee Athlete.

“Nazret’s participation in the EYOF is a tribute to the courage and resilience of all refugees,” EOC President Janez Kocijančič said. “It is a pure message of hope: through sport all refugees can have the chance to build a better future for themselves and their families.”

The initiative follows the first-ever Refugee Olympic Team that competed at the Olympic Games Rio 2016 under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee.