Inspired to make the world a better place through sport, three-time Olympic gold medallist in shooting Niccolo Campriani leads three refugees on a brave journey to qualify for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Their story will be featured in an upcoming Olympic Channel original series Taking Refuge: Target Tokyo 2020 which is scheduled to premiere worldwide in 2020.
In Taking Refuge: Target Tokyo 2020, Olympic champion Niccolo Campriani brings together a group of refugees to see if any of them has what it takes to qualify for Tokyo 2020 in the air rifle shooting event. Using mental and physical skills honed over years as a professional athlete, Campriani coaches and mentors Mahdi, Khaoula and Luna on a journey of learning, rediscovery and finding inner peace through the unifying power of sport.
Born in Florence, Italy, Campriani, 31, is a three-time Olympian and was named ISSF Shooter of the Year in 2012 and 2016. Following his retirement after the Olympic Games Rio 2016 and inspired by the IOC’s first Refugee Olympic Team, Campriani visited a refugee camp in Africa with the UNHCR and subsequently embarked on a personal endeavour to pay it forward while also figuring out his post-athletic career.
Currently filming on location at the Italian National Shooting Championships in Bologna, Italy at their first ever shooting competition, Mahdi, Khaoula and Luna have a goal to reach the Minimum Qualifying Score (MQS) in order to become eligible for Tokyo 2020. In addition to learning a new sport, each refugee brings their own incredible story from beyond the world of sport.
Now retired from competitive shooting, Campriani is investing his own free time and resources to help these individuals and bring the project to fruition. Relying heavily on his personal network, the shooting community and former sponsors, several have supported his effort by donating the needed equipment including air rifles, uniforms and electronic targets.
Scheduled to appear in the series are fellow athletes including five-time Olympian and Beijing 2008 shooting gold medallist from India Abhinav Bindra. In addition to support from within the shooting community, Campriani’s team is training at the World Archery Excellence Centre in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The Olympic Channel provides fans with a dedicated media platform to follow the stories behind the sports and athletes before, during and after the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Through inspirational stories, athlete interviews, breaking news, live events, original programming and exclusive behind-the-scenes content, the Olympic Channel provides comprehensive coverage of the road to Tokyo 2020. The Olympic Channel is available worldwide at its website and its apps for mobile and connected TV devices.
