Cindy Ngamba, a 26-year-old British-based boxer originally from Cameroon, has been selected for the Refugee Olympic Team for the upcoming Paris 2024 Games. She will be the first boxer to represent this team, having relocated to the UK at age 10. Ngamba, unable to compete for Team GB due to citizenship restrictions, has joined four other UK-based athletes on the Refugee Olympic Team, including badminton player Dorsa Yavarivafa and swimmer Matin Balsini, both from Iran.

The Refugee Olympic Team, announced by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach, will include 36 athletes from 15 countries participating in 12 sports. This team’s formation aims to offer hope and inspiration to refugees globally. However, the IOC has recently dealt with the suspension of refugee athletes due to drug-related issues, stressing the need for stringent adherence to anti-doping rules within its ranks.

Separately, Olympic rowing champion Sir Steve Redgrave expressed concerns about the new prize money policy at the Paris 2024 Games, where World Athletics will award $50,000 to gold medallists in all 48 track and field events. Redgrave worries that this could lead to disparities among athletes and has suggested reallocating these funds to support mental health initiatives and grassroots sports. He also voiced concerns about the future relevance and format of rowing within the Olympic Games, despite notable investments in rowing facilities for Paris 2024.

The Refugee Olympic Team’s presence at the Paris Games intends not only to highlight athletic excellence but also to underscore the ongoing global refugee crisis and the power of sports as a unifying and empowering tool for displaced individuals. Ngamba, a three-time English boxing champion, has been recognized as a strong medal contender and an emblem of resilience and hope for refugees worldwide.