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2017 One Show - Cross-Platform

The Refugee Nation

Agency Ogilvy / New York

Client Amnesty International
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OS_CP17007G

About the Work

For the first time ever, a refugee team competed in the Olympic Games. These 10 athletes had no national team, no flag and no anthem to call their own—until now. By partnering with refugees across the globe, we created a flag, an anthem, and a symbolic nation to represent these refugee athletes and the 65 million displaced people worldwide. Yara Said, the Syrian refugee artist who designed the flag, explains its symbolism: “orange and black are the colors of the life vests many these brave souls wear while crossing the sea looking for the safety of a new country. And now, they’re the color of solidarity.” As the Olympic Games started, our “national” symbols were embraced by athletes, celebrities, politicians, museums and refugees around the world. The campaign was extensively covered by various media outlets, raising awareness and encouraging people to show their support for refugees everywhere.