French authorities probe mysterious disappearance of paralympic athletes
French authorities have launched an investigation into the mysterious disappearance of two Congolese athletes who participated in the recently concluded Paralympic Games in Paris. The prosecutor's office in Bobigny, near Paris, confirmed that the proceedings were initiated following a report from the Congolese delegation about the athletes' disappearance.
According to the newspaper "Le Parisien," the athletes involved in the investigation are shot putter Mireille Nganga and visually impaired sprinter Emmanuel Grace Mouambako, who was accompanied by a guide.
Both went missing on 5 September. French authorities were notified of the situation two days later.
An official involved in the investigation, speaking on condition of anonymity due to a gag order, confirmed that while their passports stayed with the Congolese delegation, their luggage had gone missing.
The missing athletes were known for their dedication at the Games. As reported by the organisers, Nganga did not achieve results in javelin throws and shot put. During the Paralympic Games opening ceremony, Mouambako served as the Congolese team's flag bearers.
Questions without answers
French authorities are taking steps to clarify the circumstances of the athletes' disappearance and to determine whether we are dealing with accidental desertion or possibly other, more serious causes. The ongoing investigation leaves many questions unanswered, and the fate of Nganga and Mouambako remains unknown.
This case attracts significant interest from the media and international sports organisations, who eagerly await further information. The authorities of the Republic of Congo are also involved in the search, hoping for a swift resolution to the disappearance of their citizens. It is also worth noting that this is not the first case of this kind recently.
They also went missing
Other participants in the Games have also gone missing under similar circumstances, including Rwandan sitting volleyball player Claudine Bazubagira and the Eritrean Paralympic Committee vice president.
