Sports can play an important role in supporting and empowering refugees across the world, and more international efforts are needed to support people living in refugee camps to have access to sports activities, said Yang Yang, China's first-ever Winter Olympics gold medalist and goodwill ambassador to the United Nations' Refugee Agency.

"Sports can bring a positive impact for refugees and give them dreams," Yang said. "Through engaging sports, they may not become Olympic champions, but they can win confidence, have the courage to overcome the worst times in their lives, and are better positioned to integrate with and contribute to local communities."

Speaking in an interview on Saturday in Nairobi, Kenya, following her visit to Kakuma refugee camp, in the northwest of the country, Yang said the number of refugees across the world is 114 million, and the number is increasing due to wars and conflicts.

"The issue of refugees is not distant from us, and it may affect everyone," she said.

During the three-day' visit to the camp, which ended on Friday, Yang met refugees actively engaged in sports, including women footballers, a girls' chess club, and organizations working locally on disability and sports.

"The issue of refugees is not distant from us, and it may affect everyone," she said.

During the three day's visit at the camp, which ended on Friday, Yang met refugees actively engaged in sports, including women footballers, a girls' chess club, and organizations working locally on disability and sports.