The Fighting Irish injured her knee severely at her last game on Sunday, February 26th, almost causing the loss of her team. Only three minutes were left in the second quarter when Olivia Miles got the ball and drove coast-to-coast. At one point, however, she lost control of the ball, and, trying to save it from the rim, she fell and injured her right knee.

ND coach led Miles off the field and the Fighting Irish almost lost the game to the Cardinals, despite being the heavy favorite for the game. Coach Niele Ivey spoke on Miles’ condition during a press conference, saying she hopes the point guard will come back for her summer workouts.

Many have speculated how Olivia Miles’ injury affects the whole team, with many analysts going so far as to claim the ND Fighting Irish probably won’t make big progress postseason. The team did make it to the Sweet 16 at the NCAA Women’s Tournament, but they failed to proceed to Elites after losing to Maryland 59-76.

Olivia Miles was named an Associate Press All-America second-team selection. She was also a runner-up for the Player of the Year award by the ACC. Following Miles’ injury, the ACC Player of the Year award was given to Elizabeth Kitley from the Virginia Tech Hokies, while Niele Ivey got the Coach of the Year award.

The International Olympics Committee announced that a team of 29 refugee athletes is going to compete in the Tokyo Olympics. During the virtual ceremony, Thomas Bach, President of the Olympic Committee, unveiled this news, further adding that he is eager to watch them contend.

A Message of Resilience, Solidarity, and Hope

Bach, in the announcement, said that the coming together of the National Olympic Committees from around the world and IOC Refugee Team would magnify the essence of hope, harmony, and strength to the world. He also added that the refugee team forms a fundamental part of the community and is welcomed “with open arms.”

Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said the IOC Refugee Team symbolizes “Hopes and Aspirations” for over 80 million refugees in the world. Grandi, also Vice Chairman at Olympic Refuge Foundation, further added that thw refuge team is an extraordinary group that has the power to motivate the world. The fact that they can excel at sports after facing adverse conditions fills him with pride.

The Refugee Team of the Tokyo Olympics

On 23 July, the team will compete under the Olympic flag in the second position after Greece and play in 12 different sports.

Among the athletes is Kimia Alizadeh, the first Iranian woman to ever win an Olympic medal in 2016. She won a Bronze medal in Taekwando. Alizadeh played for Iran during the Rio Olympics and was granted refugee status in Germany when she fled her home country.

Of the 10 athletes, who played on the 2016 commencing refugee team, six will compete again at the Tokyo Olympics. Some of these players include James Nyang Chiengjiek the runner and Yusra Mardini the swimmer. The refugees competing in the Olympics belong from 11 countries: Congo, Syria, Sudan, Venezuela, South Sudan, Iran, Afghanistan, Eritrea, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iran, and Cameroon. Out of 56 refuge athletes, 29 athletes were picked and granted scholarships to prepare for the Olympics.