Paralympics athlete vanishes in Paris ahead of opening ceremony as inquest opened into ‘worrying disappearance’

A Paralympic athlete disappeared prior to Wednesday's opening ceremony in Paris, it has been reported.

The athlete, who is a member of Rwanda's female sitting volleyball team, is said to have disappeared on August 20, having previously arrived in Paris with the rest of her team.

It is claimed that she left the delegation to go to a restaurant, as per the French outlet of The Huffington Post, but was not seen again after that.

The president of the Rwandan Olympic Committee reported her disappearance with police on the same day, and an investigation has since been opened by the local prosecutor's office.

The prosecutor's office confirmed in a statement on Wednesday: "The referral to the BRDP [the Brigade for the Suppression of Crimes against Persons] as part of an investigation into a worrying disappearance."

She was due to compete in Rwanda's first sitting volleyball match against Brazil on Thursday - a match which has already taken place in Paris. Rwanda lost the match 3-0.

A Paris 2024 spokesperson said: "Paris 2024 has been informed of the disappearance of a member of the Rwandan delegation accredited for the Paralympic Games.

Getty

"We are in contact with the Rwandan National Paralympic Committee and supporting them on this matter.

"An investigation has been opened and we therefore refer you to the public prosecutor's office for any more information."

Rwanda took 12 athletes to Paris - their largest squad ever taken to a Paralympic Games. All 12 members of the team are competing in sitting volleyball, with the African nation not participating in any other event in Paris.

They qualified for the Paralympic competition back in January, and will be hoping to improve on finishing bottom of their group at the Tokyo Paralympic Games three years ago.

The team captain, Liliane Mukobwankawe, was the nation's flag bearer during the opening ceremony on Wednesday evening.

Topics: Paralympics