Asics has become an official sponsor of the World Athletics Athlete Refugee Team. Through the new partnership, which will run until 2026, Asics will offer training, competition kits, and footwear for the elite and U20 refugee teams. In addition, the partnership includes access to Asics training facilities around the world. The World Athletics Athlete Refugee Team was founded in 2016 to provide training and competition opportunities for athletes who had escaped from the immediate dangers of violence, armed conflict and injustice at home. Team members made their first competitive appearance as part of the Refugee Olympic Team at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics. Since then, the Athlete Refugee Team has competed at nearly every World Athletics Series event. The World Athletics refugee program currently comprises 32 athletes based in France, Germany, Kenya, Israel, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK. Asics has been an Official World Athletics Partner since 2017.
