The Refugee Olympic Team
Competing at their third Olympic games is a team unique to any other in Paris
Over 200 nations have sent athletes to Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games. Most of these are represented by athletes either born in the country or with strong links to qualify them for representation. One, however, is an entirely different team altogether.
Millions watched on as the boats carried Olympic teams down the River Seine. Despite the driving rain, spirits were upbeat and one boat went by without a national flag flying above it- and they are a team with one of the most inspirational stories around.
Eight years after first entering into the Olympics, the Refugee Olympic Team in the French capital is the strongest and biggest it has ever been. A total of 37 athletes competing across 12 sports are showing the strength and determination humans can have. This is an increase of eight in Tokyo and almost quadruple the 10 athletes the team took to Rio in 2016.
The Refugee Olympic Team consists of athletes who have fled their home countries as a result of war and unrest. They have been forced to relocate for a better life for themselves and their families, and these elite sports people then after all of this have gone through rigorous training and a sometimes stressful effort of securing support.
Luckily, financial sport for refugee athletes has been provided through the Refugee Athletes Scholarship Program, which is managed by the Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF) and funded by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). over 70 refugee athletes have been coached and supported through this, and over half of these have found themselves competing in Paris.
Boxer Cindy Ngamba is based in Bolton and is one of the 37 competing under the refugee banner in France. Before the games got underway, she had some inspiring words to say with the hopes of encouraging future athletes in her position to come forward and compete in this remarkable team.
Ahead of her first fight, Cindy said: “I’m just one of millions … there are many refugees out there, just like me, who have not been given the opportunity [that we have], who will be watching the Olympics — and hopefully we can inspire them to believe in themselves and believe that through hard work, through hardship, you can strive in life and achieve miracles.”
Cindy won her first fight, defeating Canada’s Tammara Thibeault to set up her next match this weekend. She is one of several who will be aiming for a podium finish in Paris, and she got off to a flying start.
The idea of not only surviving after being forced from their homeland to a new country often thousands of miles away is horrendous enough. Factor into this training and becoming a professional athlete before going on to compete at the Olympics is awe-inspiring.
For the 39 members of the Refugee Olympics Team, this is their life and they are a shining example of just how amazing humans can be. Their next goal? Winning a first Olympic medal.
