Watch Sesame Street’s Grover explain the 2016 Rio Olympics refugee team

This summer, Sesame Street’s Grover will be cheering for the "super special" refugee team at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, the favorite child-friendly monster explained in a video posted to the show’s Twitter page.

The 2016 Olympics will be the first to host a team entirely composed of refugees from the around the world, Grover explains:

"This super special team is full of athletes that come from many different countries. They are called refugees because they had to leave their homes. Life in their countries was not safe for them. Leaving their homes was sad, but this summer these athletes get the chance to do something they love."

Ten athletes, who originate from conflict zones such as Syria and South Sudan, will compete as a refugee team at the Rio games this year: in track and field, swimming, and judo.

The 2016 Olympic Games come amid an international refugee crisis, with some 20 million people displaced internationally and an additional 40 million people displaced within their own countries. As Vox’s Libby Nelson reported, the "total number of refugees worldwide is larger than the combined populations of Sweden and Israel."

We have a request

Vox's journalism is free because we believe that everyone deserves to understand the world that they live in. That kind of knowledge helps create better citizens, neighbors, friends, parents, consumers and stewards of this planet. In short, understanding benefits everyone. You can join in on this mission by making a financial gift to Vox today. Reader support helps keep our work free, for everyone. Will you join us?

One-Time Monthly Annual

$95/year

$120/year

$250/year

$350/year

Other

$

Yes, I'll give $120/year

Yes, I'll give $120/year

We accept credit card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. You can also contribute via