GB-based boxer Ngamba named in Refugee Olympic Team
British-based boxer Cindy Ngamba has been named in the Refugee Olympic Team for the Paris 2024 Games.
Cameroon-born Ngamba, 26, is the first boxer to be selected for the team.
Ngamba moved to the UK aged 10, but cannot compete for Team GB because she does not have a British passport.
"It means the world to me for qualify," she said.
"I have always worked hard, and we are going to go out there and do our job - we are like one family."
Ngamba is one of five British-based athletes selected, with Dorsa Yavarivafa competing in badminton and Matin Balsini selected for swimming.
Both were born in Iran, while Afghanistan-born Farzad Mansouri will compete in taekwondo and Ramiro Mora Romero, born in Cuba, is selected for weightlifting.
The Refugee team was announced by Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the athletes found out while on the live stream.
Addressing refugees around the world, Bach said: "We welcome all of you with open arms.
"You are an enrichment to our Olympic community, and to our societies. With your participation in the Olympic Games, you will demonstrate the human potential of resilience and excellence.
"This will send a message of hope to the more than 100 million displaced people around the world."
A total of 36 athletes have been selected from 15 countries, and will compete in 12 different sports.
The team's Chef de Mission, Masomah Ali Zada, who competed for the Refugee Olympic Team at Tokyo 2020, added that the team "has a chance to inspire the next generation".
The IOC set up the Refugee Emergency Fund to help bring refugees into sport, before the team made its Olympic debut at Rio 2016.
