Amir Ansari, 24, came to Sweden after fleeing from Afghanistan, which almost cost him his life.
On Saturday, he will make his Olympic debut for the refugee team in the time trial.
It's like a dream to be here in Paris and it feels great to represent 120 million refugees in the world, says Amir Ansari from the Olympic Village.
Amir Ansari, who lives in Uppsala, was 16 years old when he came to Sweden in 2015 after fleeing from Afghanistan, which almost cost him his life.
In late 2022, Amir Ansari received temporary residence permit in Sweden, which contributed to his cycling career taking off. Last year, he competed for the International Cycling Federation's refugee team at the World Championship in Glasgow. It went so well that Amir Ansari was selected for the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) refugee team ahead of the Olympics in Paris.
On Saturday, he will start in the time trial.
Living and being here feels fantastic and unreal. It's a dream and I'm living in that dream, says Amir Ansari.
Neighbor to the Swedes
On Monday, he arrived at the Olympic Village in Paris and joined the refugee team's accommodation, which is located next to Sweden's, Norway's, and Finland's.
I've said hello to a few from Sweden, but you don't have time to talk to many because everyone here is doing their thing, says Ansari.
He tells that the refugee team has received a lot of attention in Paris. At Friday's Olympic opening ceremony on the Seine, the refugee team, dressed in white, will enter as the second nation after Greece.
Cycling for 120 million
The day after is the time trial.
My goal is to feel after the finish that I couldn't have done better. At the same time, I'm competing for 120 million people in the world. I want to make them proud. Many of them haven't gotten the chance to move on and have a good life. I'll do my best for them, says Ansari.
In Iran, his biological mother and sisters, who also fled from Afghanistan, are keeping their fingers crossed.
They know I'm competing in the Olympics and are proud, but I don't know if they can watch my race. On the other hand, my Swedish family and Swedish mother, who has helped me, will be here on site.
Ahead of the Paris Olympics, this refugee team has 36 athletes divided into eleven sports.
During the opening ceremony on July 26, the refugee team will enter as the second nation after Greece and under its own flag.
The refugee team is financed through a fund administered by the IOC.
The Swedish Olympic Committee (SOC) nominated Amir Ansari to the IOC, which announced on May 2 that he would get a spot on the team.
