The International Olympic Committee has announced that refugee athletes will be allowed, for the first time, to take part in next year's Olympics. They will compete under the Olympic flag. Until now, such athletes have been unable to participate, because they could not represent their home country. In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly, the IOC President, Thomas Bach appealed to member states to identify which competitor should be eligible under the new rule. He added that IOC has created a 2 million dollars fund to bring hope through sport to refugees.