UN Refugee First Medal

The Refugee Olympic Team made history when Cindy Ngamba won a bronze medal in boxing. This team, managed by the UNHCR (the United Nations Refugee Agency) in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee, International Paralympic Committee, and the Olympic Refugee Foundation, first competed at the 2016 Rio Games with ten athletes. This year, the Refugee Olympic Team, comprising 37 athletes competing in twelve events, celebrated its first Olympic medal, a significant milestone for the team representing 120 million displaced people globally.

In addition to Ngamba’s achievement, Dominic Lokinyomo impressed in the men’s 5,000m at the Stade de France. Earlier in the week, Perina Lokure Nakang and Jamal Abdelmaji achieved personal bests in the women’s 800m and men’s 10,000m, respectively.

“These performances are more than just numbers and positions,” said Kelly T. Clements, Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees, who watched the team compete in Paris. “Ngamba is a history maker, and this medal is a testament to her courage and strength both inside and outside the ring. It symbolizes the enduring spirit of refugees and the power of sports to unite and inspire. As the Games draw to a close, let us remember this team as a symbol of hope and unity. Sport is a powerful tool that protects and heals. These refugee athletes have overcome immense challenges, and their success is a reminder to the world of what can be achieved when refugees are given a helping hand to pursue their dreams.”

As the Olympic event concludes, the enduring message is embodied by the Olympic flame in Paris. It stands as a perpetual symbol that sports have the power to unify and heal our divisions, showcasing the resilience of the human spirit, which continually strives to triumph against all odds.