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Para-athletics in Cameroon

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Para-athletics in Cameroon is one of several sports that people with disabilities participate in, in the country. Competitors in the sport have represented their country in international competitions. Development of sport has also taken place locally as a result of international support.

Development

[edit]

The sport is supported by local clubs and schools. Club for the Blind Youth of Cameroon (French: Club des jeunes aveugles réhabilités du Cameroun) was an association supporting blind youth. In 2006, they supported a number of sporting activities for the blind at their club including athletics, African wrestling, judo and goalball.[1] Years later, they were continuing to support torball, goalball and athletics for people with vision impairments.[2]

In 2011, national team para-sports people for athletics and powerlifting trained on a dirt covered esplandande a  Stade Omnisport de Yaoundé.[3] The French Paralympic Committee has been working to assist in the development of para-sports in French speaking African countries. In 2013, ahead of the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships in Lyon, France, Cameroon was one of six countries to benefit from a program by the French Paralympic Committee that saw doteste para-athletics equipment to try to assist the region in developing their sportspeople to the elite level by giving them access to high quality equipment required to compete at that level.[4]

In 2014, Cameroonian para-sportspeople participated in the Queen's Baton Relay ahead of the 2014 Commonwealth Games. One of the reasons they participated in the Relay was to try to bring attention to para-sports in Cameroon, and to assist in changing the perception of para-athletics in their country. The goal was to try to get people to think of para-athletics as a normal and acceptable sport.[5]

International competitions

[edit]

The Jeux de l'avenir pour personnes handicapées d'Afrique, zone Afrique centrale were created in 2008 as a result of support in Cameroon to host a Central African version of the Games. Cameroon was originally scheduled to host them in July 2008, but the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education postponed them because of poor facilities and lack of access to quality equipment.[6]  The Games did not take place until August. In athletics, Minosette dominated for Cameroon, winning gold medals in the women's 100 meters, the 200 meters and the long jump.[7]

Following the formal creation of the CNPC in August 2011, the organization immediately set about trying to enter eight athletes into the 10th All Africa Games in Maputo. Events on the program included the 100 meters, 200 meters and long jump.[8] FECASDEP was given funding to send 4 sportspeople to the 2011 All-Africa Games to compete in javelin and the 1,500 meters. FECASDEP held a two-week training camp ahead of the competition, and had a goal of having its athletes make the podium at the Games. FECASDV was funded for one athlete and two guides. He compete in the 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m events. Omer Abat was the coach for the vision impaired national team for Maputo.[9]

Special Olympics Cameroon was supposed to send a delegation in 2011 to Athens World Games. One of the members of the team would have been track and field competitor Salomon Oyono.[10]

In 2012, Cameroon sent 58 athletes to the  sixth International Athletics Meeting of Tunis. The competition was a qualifying event for the 2012 Summer Paralympics.[11]

Cameroon sent a delegation to the 2013 Czech Open. They were the first African country to participate in the event, and athletes had the opportunity to undergo international classification. The team included three athletes,  Conrat Frederic Atangana, Jean Solange Avah Mbida and Herve Ndi. All participated in the javelin event, with Cameroon coming away with three javelin bronze medals. Avah Mbida also won bronze in the T54 100 meter and 200 meter events.[12]

The country also sent a delegation to the 2014 and 2015 IPC Athletics Grand Prix Dubai. Andre Ndo Andeme participated both years, winning in the men's T12 100 meters in 2014 and finishing second in 2015.[13] Vision impaired runner Charles Christol Atangana Ntsama won three medals in 2015 of the thirteen total claimed by Cameroon at the event. He claimed gold in the men's T11 100 meter event in a time of 12.03 seconds and set a A qualifying time for the 2016 Summer Paralympics. Cameroon sent a delegation of 11 athletes and 2 guides to the 2015 edition. Two women, Irène Ngono Noah and Hermine Guemo Talla, made their international debut for Cameroon at the 2015 edition. Two men also competed in their first major international event for Cameroon: Charles Christol Atangana Ntsama and Luc Yomby Kifie. Three vision impaired athletes qualified for the 2015 IBSA World Games and the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships at the Dubai Grand Prix. They were Charles Atangana in the 200 meter and 400 meter events, Ndo Andeme in the Men's T12 200 meter event and Patrick Awa Bakounga in the 400 meter.[14]

Christian Gobe was one of Cameroon's representatives at the 2016 edition. He came away with gold in the men's F55 shot put after setting an African record with a throw of 10.78 meters.[15] Judith Mariette Lebog was another member of the Cameroon delegation in Dubai in 2016. She came away with gold in the women's T11 100 meter event after posting a time of 14.16 seconds.[16]

Cameroon sent a delegation to the Glasgow hosted 2014 Commonwealth Games.[5] Cameroon was scheduled to send a delegation to the 2014 INAS World Indoor Athletics Championships that took place from February 28 to March 2 in Reims, France.[17]

Cameroon had a number of para-athletes competing at the 2015 All African Games, including a number a pair who earned medals. Charles Atagana Ntsana won bronze in the men's T11 100m. Christian Gobe won gold in the men's Shot put F54-55.[18]

Gobe represented Cameroon in May 2016 at the IPC Athletics Grand Prix, Nottwil, Switzerland, where he set an African record in the F55 men's shot put with a throw of 10.49 meters.[19] The year before at the 2015 edition of the event, Gobe finished first in the men's F55 shot put with a best throw of 9.26 meters.[20]

Charles Atangana Ntsama set a A qualifying time for the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio while running with guide Cyrille Lombano Bonia in the T11 100 meters. He set the time while wearing kit provided via a sponsorship deal with MACRON, the first time that a Cameroonian para-sportsperson had worn sponsored kit in an international competition.[21] Because of the depth of competition in the men's T11 100 meter event, despite meeting the A-Qualifying Time, Atangana Nstama Charles was not selected by the IPC to compete at the Rio Paralympics. This left Gobe as the only representative at the Rio Games. He had been originally been nominated to the IPC to compete in the shotput, discuss, 100 meter and 200 meter events.[22]

Christian Gobe represented Cameroon at the 2016 Summer Paralympics. He competed in the Men's Shot Put F55 event. In a thirteen deep field, he finished outside of the medals.[23]

In Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, 8 athletes and 1 guide runner competed, making it the largest-ever Refugee Paralympic Team.[1]

Emigration

[edit]

Joseph Kemgang is a Cameroonian para-athlete and wheelchair basketball player.  Born in 1981 in Yaoundé, he contracted polio when he was 6-years-old and lost the use of his legs. Three years later, he was abandoned by his parents and went to live with his aunts. Lacking a wheelchair, he got around on all fours using sandals to protect his knees. When he was a 12-year-old, the aunt died so he went to live with a friend of his mother. Because of an inability to go to school as a result of his disability, he took up street sports with other children with disabilities in his neighborhood. Because of cultural bias that believes people with disabilities are cursed, he had few opportunities and, like many others in his position, took to the street to beg.[24]

In the mid-1990s, he came across some young machinists, artists and welders who made wheelchairs. They made him a racing wheelchair using bicycle parts. In 1997, he entered a half marathon in Yaoundé where he came away the winner with prize money of 37,000 CFA Francs (37FF of the time, slightly more than €5 ). The following year, he became Cameroon's sole para-athletics competitor at the Future Games of Disabled People in Francophone Africa (JAPHAF) in the Ivory Coast. He was back for the 2000 edition in the Ivory Coast, where he won gold in the 100 meter and 400 meter wheelchair athletics events.[24]

Kemgang then set about trying to qualify for the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney. He competed at a qualifying event in Tunisia, where he was spotted by French wheelchair basketball team ASPAR Saint Ouen (Seine Saint Denis) who offered him a contract, which he accepted. He was classifiated as a 2-point player and played as a point guard.  As a member of the team, he helped them win the 2003 French Cup. He stayed with the team until 2004, where after he tried to renew his residency, he was rejected, put into administrative detention. This situation put his ability to participate in para-sports on hold in France.[24]

Conrat Frederic Atangana, Jean Solange Avah Mbida and Herve Ndi are other Cameroonian who eventually applied for refugee status in France. They all landed in Pas-de-Calais, France, because Cameroonian football Marc-Vivien Foé was there. After immigrating as a group, all three remained involved with powerlifting, athletics and wheelchair basketball.[25]

Athletes

[edit]

In 2016, the country had 39 athletes registered with the International Paralympic Committee.[26]

Athlete Gender Date of Birth Disciplines National Team Debut Competitions Registered

2016

Ref
Serge Parfait Abana Fouda Male Yes [27]
Jean Aguedia Male 1981 F57 javelin 2015 Fazaa International Athletics Competition Yes [27][28]
Emmanuel Pinochet Amougui Male 1988 F57 javelin 2015 Fazaa International Athletics Competition Yes [27][28]
Conrat Frederic Atangana Male 1987 2013 Czech Open

2014 Paralympic Athletics Meeting Paris Seine-S

Yes [27][12] 2014
Guillaume Junior Atangana Male Yes [27]
Cristol Charles Atangana Ntsama Male T11 100m 2015 IPC Athletics Grand Prix Dubai

2015 Fazaa International

2015 All Africa Games

Yes [27][14][28][18]
Aime Blaise Atchoukeu Mbithe Male Yes [27]
Pierre Arnaud Ateba Tollo Male Yes [27]
Jean Solange Avah Mbida Male T54 100m

T54 200m

F54 javelin

2013 Czech Open Yes [27][12]
Louis Gervais Baha Male 1983 F34 javelin 2015 Fazaa International Athletics Competition Yes [27][28][29]
Patrick Bakounga Awa Male Yes [27]
Maurice Francis Biwole Nkodo Male Yes [27]
Patrice Merlin Elouma Male Yes [27]
Christian Gobe Male May 13, 1977 T54 100m

T54 200m

F55 shot put

2013 IPC Athletics World Championships

2015 IPC Athletics Grand Prix Nottwil, Switzerland

2015 Fazaa International Athletics Competition

2016 IPC Athletics Grand Prix Nottwil, Switzerland

2016 IPC Athletics Grand Prix Dubai

2016 Summer Paralympics

Yes [27][23][30][31][15][20][32]
Eric Patrick Guethe Fondjo Male Yes [27]
Vivien Bienvenu Mbida Male 1982 F57 javelin

F57 shot put

2015 Fazaa International Athletics Competition Yes [27][28][29]
Garba Mohamed Male Yes [27]
Mohamed Mohamed Garba Male T12 200 2015 Fazaa International Athletics Competition Yes [27][28]
Joseph Mvondo Male 1979 F57 javelin 2015 Fazaa International Athletics Competition Yes [27][28]
Herve Ndi Male F57 javelin 2013 Czech Open Yes [27][12]
Andre Patrick Ndo Andeme Male August 11, 1985 T12 100m

T12 200m

2014 Fazaa International

2015 IPC Athletics Grand Prix Dubai

2015 Fazaa International

Yes [27][13][14][28][33][34][35][36][37][38]
Arouna Nsangou Male Yes [27]
Privat Nsem Medjoto Male Yes [27]
Duplex Cressot Nteuffa Ntang Male Yes [27]
Hermane Francois Ntsoli Male F55 shot put 2015 Fazaa International Yes [27][28]
Jose Onguene Malla Male Yes [27]
Yves Marcellin Ossomba Male Yes [27]
Ulrich Dimitri Pouadeu Ngaleu Male 1999 F53 shot put Yes [27][29]
Julien Sodjine Motto Male Yes [27]
Martin Talla Djoyou Male Yes [27]
Nelly Teumeni Djago Male Yes [27]
Georges Timoh Wah Male 1989 T47 200m

T46 400m

2015 Fazaa International

2016 Sharjah International Open

Yes [27][28][29]
Luc Yomby Kifie Male 2015 IPC Athletics Grand Prix Dubai 2015 IPC Athletics Grand Prix Dubai Yes [27][14]
Patrick Zandjo Male T46 200m 2015 Fazaa International Yes [27][28]
Leonel Clement Nsegbe Male 1985 T54 1500m No [29]
Alain Martin Manda Essomba Male 1982 F57 javelin 2015 Fazaa International No [28]
Felix Raoul Abina Mvodo Male T46 200m 2015 Fazaa International No [28]
Djimdoumgar Male 1974 F57 javelin

F37 shot put

2015 Fazaa International No [28][29]
Claude Mbag Jr. Male 1983 F41 shot put No [29]
Abdou Pieplieyou Male 1979 F54 shot put No [29]
Salomon Oyono Male T20 400m

F20 shot put

No [39][40][10]
Yollande Arielle Assena Omenguele Female Yes [27]
Lysette Manuela Ehowe Moussima Female Yes [27]
Judith Mariette Lebog Female T11 100m 2016 IPC Athletics Grand Prix Dubai Yes [27][16]
Mimozette Nghamsi Fotie Female Yes [27]
Joseline Nyangono Okono Female Yes [27]
Irène Ngono Noah Female 1988 T12 200m 2015 IPC Athletics Grand Prix Dubai 2015 IPC Athletics Grand Prix Dubai

2015 Fazaa International Athletics Competition

No [14][28]
Hermine Guemo Talla Female 1989 T11 200m 2015 IPC Athletics Grand Prix Dubai 2015 IPC Athletics Grand Prix Dubai

2015 Fazaa International Athletics Competition

No [14][28]
Rose Sandrine Afom Female 1986 F44 javelin 2015 Fazaa International Athletics Competition No [28]
Larissa Alvine Malobe Ehiyo Female 1993 T37 400m No [29]
Melanie Ze Female 1994 F31 shot put No [29]
Martine Tamibe Female 1982 F57 shot put No [29]
Arlette Mawe Fokoa Female 1989 F57 shot put No [29]

Coaches

[edit]

In 2011, the national team coach was Constance Nchifi.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Bangré, Habibou (May 30, 2006). "Cameroun : ensemble pour aider les aveugles". Afrik (in French). Retrieved October 9, 2016.
  2. ^ "wagne.net : le service en ligne de l'Afrique qui bouge". WAGNE (in French). WAGNE. Archived from the original on July 30, 2017. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
  3. ^ a b Mbogo, Etienne; Assoumaïla, Ali; Lejard, Laurent (September 2013). "Yanous ! Handisport : Des Jeux francophones inégaux". Yanous! (in French). Yanous!. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
  4. ^ "French NPC donate low cost equipment to six countries". International Paralympic Committee. International Paralympic Committee. July 26, 2013. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  5. ^ a b Queen's Baton Relay: Cameroon para-athletes set for Games, British Broadcasting Corporation, January 15, 2014, retrieved October 6, 2016
  6. ^ Ngatsing Tchuente, Laure (July 14, 2008). "Afrique Centrale: Le Minsep reporte les Jeux de l'Avenir" (in French). All Africa. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  7. ^ "Athlétisme - Jeux paralympiques 2008 : Doutes sur la participation camerounaise". Mboa.info (in French). Mboa.info. August 5, 2008. Retrieved October 8, 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  8. ^ "Cameroun: élection du président du comité national paralympique-Le Quotidien du Peuple en ligne". People's Daily (China) (in French). August 23, 2011. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  9. ^ Xinhua (August 24, 2011). "Cameroun: sept athlètes handicapés retenus pour les Jeux africains de Maputo-Le Quotidien du Peuple en ligne". People's Daily (in French). Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  10. ^ a b Owona, Guy Hyacinthe (June 16, 2011). "Cameroun: Jeux olympiques spéciaux - Le pays à Athènes". Mutations (in French). Retrieved October 13, 2016 – via All Africa.
  11. ^ "Tunisia Hosts London 2012 Athletics Qualifier". International Paralympic Committee. International Paralympic Committee. March 22, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  12. ^ a b c d Comité National Paralympique Camerounais (CNPC) (2016). "Centre de Presse". Comité National Paralympique Camerounais (CNPC) (in French). International Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on November 18, 2016. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  13. ^ a b IPC (February 15, 2015). "Aled Davies breaks world record at IPC Athletics Grand Prix Dubai". International Paralympic Committee. International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  14. ^ a b c d e f Cameroon Tribune (April 4, 2015). "Sport pour tous - Handisport: les bons points du Cameroun à Dubaï". Mboa.info (in French). Mboa.info. Archived from the original on April 19, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  15. ^ a b IPC Athletics (March 21, 2016). "World champion Kenny van Weeghel wins in Dubai". International Paralympic Committee. International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  16. ^ a b IPC (March 18, 2016). "Switzerland's Marcel Hug kicks off Dubai Grand Prix with a win". International Paralympic Committee. International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  17. ^ "Championnats du Monde d'Athlétisme Indoor 2014" (PDF). FFSA (in French). FFSA. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 8, 2014. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
  18. ^ a b CAVB (September 22, 2015). "Jeux Africains 2015 : La nouvelle Egypte, grand vainqueur avec 193 médailles !!". Afriquinfos (in French). Afriquinfos. Archived from the original on June 5, 2017. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
  19. ^ "Belgium's Genyn and Kuwait's Almutairi smash records in Nottwil". International Paralympic Committee. International Paralympic Committee. May 29, 2016. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  20. ^ a b IPC (May 31, 2015). "Four 100m world records fall at IPC Athletics Grand Prix". International Paralympic Committee. International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  21. ^ Comité National Paralympique Camerounais (CNPC) (2016). "News News". Comité National Paralympique Camerounais (CNPC) (in French). International Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on March 29, 2016. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  22. ^ Comité National Paralympique Camerounais (CNPC) (2016). "Notre Actualité". Comité National Paralympique Camerounais (CNPC) (in French). International Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on March 29, 2016. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  23. ^ a b "Athletics | Men's Shot Put - F54/55 Final | Rio 2016 Paralympic Games". International Paralympic Committee. International Paralympic Committee. 2016. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  24. ^ a b c Lejard, Laurent (May 2006). "Yanous ! Espace handicap moteur : Ma vie, c'est la France". Yanous! (in French). Yanous!. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
  25. ^ "Poser un autre regard sur le handicap - Site de Méricourt". Méricourt (in French). Retrieved October 9, 2016.
  26. ^ "Biographies: Athletes per NPC per Sport table". International Paralympic Committee. International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am "Athletes Sport List - Cameroon". International Paralympic Committee. International Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on March 30, 2016. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  28. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "7th Fazaa International Athletics Competition 2015 - Results Day 4" (PDF). Team Thomas. IPC. 2015. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "6th Sharjah International Open Athletics Meeting 2016" (PDF). FEDDF. International Paralympic Committee. March 16, 2016. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
  30. ^ "Athletics - men's 200m T54 final - 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships, Lyon". International Paralympic Committee. International Paralympic Committee. 2013. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  31. ^ "Athletics - men's 100m T54 final - 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships, Lyon". International Paralympic Committee. International Paralympic Committee. 2013. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  32. ^ "GOBE Christian". Rio 2016. September 2016. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  33. ^ Mutations (2007). "Le Portail du Cameroun". Cameroon-Info.Net (in French). Mutations. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
  34. ^ "(Athletics) Athlete Profile : NDO ANDEME Andre Patrick - Doha 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships". International Paralympic Committee. International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
  35. ^ "6th Fazaa International Athletics Competition 2014" (PDF). Team Thomas. International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
  36. ^ Disabled, Dubai Club for the. "LaIVE - 7th Fazaa International Athletics Competition 2015 22.02.2015-25.02.2015". Team Thomas. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
  37. ^ "5th Sharjah International Open Athletics Meeting 2015 Sharjah - Day 2" (PDF). International Paralympic Committee. 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
  38. ^ "5th Sharjah International Open Athletics Meeting 2015 - Day 1" (PDF). EAMO. International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
  39. ^ Ajsc-centre (February 26, 2014). "Athlétisme - Départ des athlètes camerounais en France pour disputer les championnats d'athlétisme". Mboa.info (in French). Archived from the original on July 24, 2014. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  40. ^ "Cameroun, urgent: Refus de visa aux athlètes camerounais de la Fecasdi :: CAMEROON". Camer-sport.be (in French). February 28, 2016. Archived from the original on January 1, 2018. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
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