Amir Rezanejad Hassanjani and Iliya Nadernejad have received a big boost in their mission to compete at the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028.
To mark World Refugee Day, the Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF) has announced the 47 refugee athletes who are receiving Olympic Solidarity scholarships.
Rezanejad Hassanjani and Nadernejad have both been included on that list, enhancing their hopes of competing at the Olympic Games in three years’ time.
The scholarship-holders have joined the ORF-run Refugee Athlete Support Programme, which will help them train and compete at the highest level.
The refugee athlete scholarships make athletes eligible for inclusion in the Refugee Olympic Team at Olympic and Youth Olympic Games.
Slalom paddler Rezanejad Hassanjani made his Olympic debut at Paris 2024 after making the 36-strong Refugee Olympic Team.
The 25-year-old, who resides in Germany after fleeing Iran, was one of four paddlers in Paris with Saeid Fazloula, Fernando Dayan Jorge Enriquez and Saman Soltani also chosen to compete.
Additional quotas allowed Fazloula, Jorge and Soltani to line-up in the Canoe Sprint competition and Rezanejad Hassanjani to participate in Canoe Slalom at the Games.
Nadernejad is the latest paddler to become an ICF refugee athlete after fleeing Iran to seek refuge in Germany.
“It means a lot to me to become an ICF refugee athlete,” said 22-year-old Nadernejad.
“It gives me the opportunity to continue where I had to stop in Iran.
“It’s a beautiful experience and a big chance for me.
“My biggest goal is to take part in the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
“That’s my dream – and I’m working hard to keep improving until then.”
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