ASICS Chojo Camp hosts refugee athletes ahead of Tokyo World Championships

World Athletics, in collaboration with World Athletics partner ASICS, recently hosted five refugee athletes at Chojo Camp Europe in Font-Romeu, France, as they prepare for selection to the Athlete Refugee Team (ART) at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25. 

Farida Aborage, Seyd Taha Ghafari, Omar Hassan, Emmanuel Kiruhura Ntagunga and Seyfu Jamaal Tahir all have similar journeys. All five of them left their countries dreaming of a better future. They have overcome many challenges and are still struggling to find their mark in a new country. 

They also share the same goal: to secure a spot on the World Athletics ART at the World Championships in Tokyo in September. Spots are limited and only the best performing athletes will be able to experience the biggest world event in athletics.

The ASICS Chojo Camp in Font-Romeu is in the Pyrenees, which provides the athletes with top conditions for training. As well as being at high altitude, they received access to the French national team training facilities. Eric and Marit Toogood supervised the athletes as the coach and physiotherapist, respectively, making sure the group had the support they needed for their training.

This initiative helped to bring the team together for the first time outside of competition. Sharing the same living space created further affinity among a group of people who have endured a lot of hardships in their lives, reminding them that they are not alone.

“At the World Athletics Championships, they need good results,” said Ntagunga, who is originally from Congo but found refuge in Norway. “For us this is good, as we do the same discipline here, we train together, we help each other, everyone gains something from it. I appreciate the organisation of this camp and I hope it won’t be the last one. It’s not easy for us to get this chance.”

Tahir and Ghafari fled Ethiopia and Iran respectively and both found refuge in the UK. In May last year, Ghafari received the news that he had not been selected for the ART for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

“On that day, I said to myself: ‘This is not the finish for me, this is the start’. And I decided to run better, think better, sleep better, behave better, concentrate better,” he said. “I have decided to rebuild my life mentally and physically and work hard, to put more time in, from work to training or recovery. My goal is Tokyo, I will do my best for it.” 

The determination the athletes have shown, to go through mentally and physically challenging journeys as they chase better opportunities in life, also applies to their athletics goals. 

“Every time I finish a marathon, I cry,” said Hassan, who fled Ethiopia to find refuge in Denmark. “If you ask me: ‘Why are you crying, Omar? You are at the finish line, you did very well’, I remember all the pain I’ve been through, all the work it took me to get to where I am, and the journey was tough. People didn’t believe in me and I had a lot of doubts. When you reach the finish line, it all comes out.” 

The camp provided more than just great facilities for the five athletes. For Abaroge, who fled Ethiopia and found refuge in France, it was an opportunity for her to gain the confidence she hoped for at this time of the year.

After one of the training sessions, she said with a huge smile: “Now I believe I can be a champion.”

Christel Saneh for World Athletics