Spectrum: Sport connects. This thesis is supported by many independent studies, and the federal government repeatedly emphasizes its importance for integration. With this in mind, five refugees from Syria did a few laps on the track in the Berlin Velodrom last week together with Maximilian Beyer (rad-net ROSE). The five friends were already active together in a cycling club in their war-torn homeland.
"Two weeks ago the boys were standing in front of the door trying to ask with their hands and feet if they could train," reports Klaus Böger, President of the State Sports Association in Berlin. The five men, in their mid-twenties, had been on the run for two months – they have since applied for asylum and found accommodation in a refugee home in Berlin-Reinickendorf. In their Syrian homeland, they were active together in a small cycling club and would love to continue practicing this sport here in Germany.
“We want to train every day, every single day. We don't have anything else right now. We want to train and learn." says 20-year-old Niam. After the five friends expressed their wish in front of the velodrome a few weeks ago, Böger, together with Dieter Stein, the sports director of the Berlin six-day race and Berlin state coach, pulled out all the stops to fulfill the Syrians' wish. "We took care of the insurance issues, the national coach provided the equipment," says Böger. Clothing and equipment came from the U23 team KED-Stevens, where Stein is also active as a sports director.
In order to give the refugees, who are still very inexperienced on the track, a bit of help, World Championship bronze medalist and rad-net ROSE professional Max Beyer also agreed to train with them. None of them had ever traveled a railway before: "It's something completely new, but above all a change," says Niam with a smile on his face. If those responsible have their way, it should by no means remain a one-off training session - "Starting tomorrow I'll be on the road again - you're welcome to come with me," says Max Beyer.