Refugee team hopes to compete under own country's flag at Tokyo 2020

Refugee team hopes to compete under own country's flag at Tokyo 2020

Two athletes of the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics refugee team -- Syrian-born swimmer Ibrahim Al Hussein (R) and U.S.-based Iranian discus thrower Shahrad Nasajpour (L) -- attend a press conference in the Brazilian city on Sept. 14, 2016. The two said they hope refugee athletes can enter the 2020 Tokyo Games under their own countries' flags. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Refugees hope to compete under own countries' flag at Tokyo 2020

Refugees hope to compete under own countries' flag at Tokyo 2020

U.S.-based Iranian discus thrower Shahrad Nasajpour of the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics refugee team attends a press conference in the Brazilian city on Sept. 14, 2016. Nasajpour said he hopes refugee athletes can enter the 2020 Tokyo Games under their own countries' flags. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Rio Paralympics begins

Rio Paralympics begins

Syrian-born swimmer Ibrahim Al Hussein, the flag-bearer of the refugee team of the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics, marches during the opening ceremony, together with U.S.-based Iranian discus thrower Shahrad Nasajpour (R) at the Maracana stadium on Sept. 7, 2016. The event goes through Sept. 18. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

2 refugee Para-athletes enter Games village in Rio de Janeiro

2 refugee Para-athletes enter Games village in Rio de Janeiro

Two refugee Para-athletes -- Syrian-born swimmer Ibrahim Al Hussein (2nd from L) and U.S.-based Iranian discus thrower Shahrad Nasajpour (behind a woman in R) -- attend a team welcome ceremony at the Paralympic athletes' village in Rio de Janeiro on Sept. 3, 2016. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

2 refugee Para-athletes enter Games village in Rio de Janeiro

2 refugee Para-athletes enter Games village in Rio de Janeiro

Two refugee Para-athletes -- U.S.-based Iranian discus thrower Shahrad Nasajpour (3rd from L) and Syrian-born swimmer Ibrahim Al Hussein (3rd from R) -- pose during a team welcome ceremony at the Paralympic athletes' village in Rio de Janeiro on Sept. 3, 2016. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Iranian, Syrian form refugee team at Rio Paralympics

Iranian, Syrian form refugee team at Rio Paralympics

File photo taken in April, 2016, shows Syrian-born swimmer Ibrahim Al Hussein joining the Olympic flame torch relay for the Rio Summer Olympics at a refugee center in the Greek capital Athens. The International Paralympic Committee said on Aug. 26 that he and U.S.-based Iranian discus thrower Shahrad Nasajpour will form a refugee team at the Rio Paralympics, which start Sept. 7. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo