As part of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (April 6), the International Olympic Committee (IOC) highlights how sport is transforming the lives of refugees through the inspiring stories of Olympic medalist Cindy Ngamba and Terrains d’Avenir coach Shabnam Salahshoor.
CINDY NGAMBA: REFUGEE MEDALIST
Cindy Ngamba, a member of the IOC’s Refugee Olympic Team (EOR), made history at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games by winning the team’s first bronze medal in the -75 kg boxing category. Cindy, who left Cameroon as a teenager and sought refuge in Great Britain, found in boxing a family and a way to overcome loneliness.
With the support of the Olympic Refugee Foundation (ORF) and Olympic Solidarity’s Refugee Athlete Support Program, Cindy became a three-time English national champion. Her participation in Paris 2024, where she also served as team flag bearer, marked a defining moment in her life and in the visibility of refugees in sport.
SHABNAM SALAHSHOOR: REBUILDING LIVES
Shabnam Salahshoor, an Afghan refugee now living in Paris, found in the Terrains d’Avenir program a way to rebuild her life after fleeing her country. This ORF-driven program supports displaced youth, including refugees and asylum seekers, through sport, offering access to disciplines such as football, rugby, taekwondo and volleyball, as well as vocational training.
Shabnam, who now leads football sessions exclusively for refugee women, describes sport as a starting point for integrating into society. “The women who come here are like my family, a family for those who are far from their families,” she says.
THE IOC’S COMMITMENT TO REFUGEES
Since the creation of the Refugee Olympic Team in 2015, the IOC has given displaced athletes the opportunity to compete on the world’s biggest sporting stage. The team has grown from 10 athletes at Rio 2016 to 37 at Paris 2024, representing 15 countries in 12 sports. In addition, the team will be present at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, continuing its mission to offer hope and visibility to displaced youth.
ORF, established in 2017, has reached more than 950,000 young people affected by displacement in 12 countries. Programs such as Terrains d’Avenir have helped more than 9,000 young refugees find a sense of belonging and build a better future through sport.
OLYMPISM365
The IOC’s support for refugees is part of its Olympism365 strategy, which seeks to strengthen the role of sport in advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through this initiative, the IOC supports 550 social impact programs in 176 countries, promoting health, education and social inclusion.
From June 3-5, the Olympism365 Summit: Sport for a Better World will bring together leaders from various sectors in Lausanne to share knowledge and explore new opportunities to invest in sport as a tool for development.
