UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in partnership with the Saudi Ministry of Sport and in coordination with Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee (SOPC), marked the World Refugee Day with a public awareness event at Boulevard City in Riyadh, underscoring the role of sport in fostering hope, resilience, and opportunities for refugees worldwide. The event brought together members of the Saudi community for a series of interactive activities showcasing how sport can help displaced individuals rebuild their confidence and pursue their ambitions while strengthening community connections.
The event brought together several Saudi sports federations, including the Saudi Rowing Federation, Saudi Cycling Federation, Saudi Table Tennis Federation, Saudi Cricket Federation, and Saudi Badminton Federation, which offered a variety of interactive sporting experiences for visitors. Through these activities, the event showcased the power of sport to foster connection, strengthen communities, and promote the values of respect, friendship, and solidarity.World Refugee Day, observed annually on 20 June, honors the courage and resilience of millions of people forced to flee conflict, violence, and persecution. This year’s event also highlighted the journeys of refugee athletes who have gone on to compete on the world’s biggest sporting stages, including the Olympic Games, demonstrating that when given opportunities, refugees can thrive and achieve remarkable success.
Nadjia Hafsa, Deputy Representative to UNHCR in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, said “ For refugees, sport is often much more than a game. It is a powerful source of hope, inclusion, and empowerment which also helps young people rebuild confidence, forge meaningful connections, and look to the future with optimism. Through this joint initiative with the Saudi Ministry of Sport and in coordination with Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee, we celebrate the resilience and determination of refugees and renew our commitment to ensuring that every young person is given the chance to develop their talents and achieve their full potential.
Representatives from UNHCR, The Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee, the Ministry of Sport, participating federations, and Saudi athletes joined the event, which presented a shared commitment to solidarity and inclusion.
The Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee stated:
“Sport transcends competition to become a powerful tool for empowerment, confidence-building, and creating opportunities. Guided by the Olympic values of respect, friendship, and solidarity, we are proud to take part in this initiative, which highlights the positive impact sport can have on the lives of individuals and communities.
This participation reflects our belief in the ability of sport to bring people together, unlock potential, and foster inclusion, while supporting initiatives that use sport as a vehicle for positive social impact and sustainable development.”
The partnership between the Saudi institutions and UNHCR reflects a longstanding commitment to humanitarian solidarity and support for displaced populations worldwide.. Together, UNHCR and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continue to advance a shared vision of protecting the most vulnerable, fostering hope, resilience, and dignity for those forced to flee their homes.
According to UNHCR’s latest Global Trends Report, there were 41.6 million refugees and other people in need of international protection at the end of 2025, while 68.6 million were internally displaced. Nearly 39 per cent of refugees are children, making access to opportunities, education, protection, and positive community engagement more important than ever.
Through initiatives such as this World Refugee Day event, UNHCR and its partners continue to advocate for a world where displaced people are supported to rebuild their lives with dignity and where every young person can pursue a future full of possibilities.
