Cameroon has dispatched six athletes to the Paris 2024 Olympics, the smallest contingent since the country’s early participation in 1968 when just five athletes represented the nation.
The six athletes representing Cameroon will be competing in three sports disciplines: swimming, athletics, table tennis, and judo.
They include Richelle Soppi in Judo, Linda Angounou in Athletics, Mabela Nguelo in Swimming, Emmanuel Eseme in Athletics, Sarah Hanffou in Table Tennis, and Sergio Guiché in Swimming.
The farewell ceremony for the athletes was presided over by the Sports Minister, Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, on Wednesday.
The event took place at the headquarters of the National Olympic and Sports Committee in the presence of Vice President Minister Ibrahim Talba Malla.
Other dignitaries present included representatives from administrative and political authorities in the Centre Region, as well as various stakeholders in the national sporting movement.
This year’s Summer Olympics, scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11.
The minimal participation of Cameroon at the Summer Olympics raises critical questions about the capabilities and effectiveness of the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education (MINSEP) and the National Olympic and Sports Committee of Cameroon (CNOSC) in fostering and developing sporting talent.
The country’s football management was recently rocked by a crises that threatened the national team’s participation in the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The national handball team also failed to play its Olympics qualifier game against Hungary because travel visas for team members were delayed.
