Historic first: Cindy Ngamba secures refugee Olympic team's medal

Boxer Cindy Ngamba cannot return to Cameroon as a homosexual person. She did not receive British citizenship. She represents 100 million refugees at the Olympics.

On August 4, boxer Cindy Ngamba made history in Olympic sports. By advancing to the semifinals in her weight category at the Paris Games, she became the first representative of the Refugee Olympic Team to secure a medal. Who are the athletes competing at the Olympics under the Olympic flag?

The Refugee Olympic Team represents over 100 million people worldwide who have had to leave their home countries. The International Olympic Committee established it and is competing in the Olympics for the third time. The team in Paris consists of 36 athletes from 11 countries, including Cindy Ngamba, who lives and trains in the United Kingdom.

Twenty-five-year-old Cindy Ngamba was born in Cameroon. In 2009, her family moved to England. The boxer cannot return to Cameroon because she is homosexual, which remains a crime punishable by imprisonment in that African country. For years, the British Boxing Federation has unsuccessfully supported Ngamba's citizenship application to the UK Home Office.

The athlete grew up in England and also won national titles in her sport. However, she could not represent the United Kingdom at the Paris Games because she was denied citizenship. Instead, she represented the Refugee Olympic Team and carried its flag during the opening ceremony. The team's colours feature the Olympic flag with five rings on a white background.

IOC President Thomas Bach addressed the athletes of the Refugee Olympic Team during the announcement of its roster in May 2004. He emphasized: 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." He added: This will send a message of hope to the more than 100 million displaced people around the world." Bach also stated: "At the same time, you will make billions of people around the world aware of the magnitude of the refugee crisis."