Staying behind: Olympics athletes seek asylum in Europe

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00:00This gym is far from being suitable for professional training, but since she's been

00:07staying at this asylum center in Belgium, Marcela Tsakobi has redoubled her efforts

00:13to continue her physical training, despite everything.

00:18After the Paris Olympics last summer, this Congolese boxer decided to stay in Europe

00:23for security reasons, which she prefers not to discuss, but also for her sporting ambitions.

00:28There are no Congolese who are better and who stay in the country.

00:33Why?

00:34Because we are neglected.

00:35Personally, I am a woman, I have been to the Olympic Games twice, but I always leave eliminated,

00:41and I can't get to the level where I can win a medal.

00:44That's why I stayed in Belgium, to improve my boxing.

00:48This is a little documented phenomenon, but it is said to occur after every international

00:53competition.

00:54At the end of the short-term visa granted for the duration of the event, some athletes

00:58like Marcela Tsakobi decide to apply for asylum.

01:02Since arriving in Belgium, the young woman has been able to participate in two fights.

01:06But while her application is pending, it's impossible to imagine boxing outside the country,

01:12much to the dismay of the coach who took her under his wing.

01:15She was ranked 140th in the world, but thanks to her last fight, she is now 45th.

01:23I checked this morning, she has a world level, so with a well-directed path, she can go to

01:28the top.

01:29I am certain of that.

01:31This Taekwondo coach also took in a para-athlete who declined to be filmed.

01:39In its 10 years of existence, in addition to training young Belgians like Issam, this Brussels-based

01:44association has supported around 10 refugee athletes.

01:49They still have the drive to be able to compete at the highest level.

01:54And here we give them the chance to train, to prepare for the future, and the goal is

01:58for them to participate in the Belgian colors.

02:00It's impossible to quantify the number of athletes who chose to remain in Europe after

02:07the Paris Olympics, but according to an investigation by the newspaper L'Equipe, entire Paralympic

02:13teams may not have returned to their countries.

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