Paralympian ‘vanishes’ just before games as disappearance sparks investigation

The para-athlete had been due to compete today.

The athlete is a member of the Rwanda team and was scheduled to compete in the sitting volleyball opening round match this morning against Brazil.

According to Huffington Post, the woman was reported missing to the authorities on Tuesday, but hasn't been seen or heard from since arriving in Paris on August 20.

According to members of her team, she left the group to go to a restaurant on that evening but never returned.

The publication has described the incident as a "worrying disappearance" and added that concerns were heightened when the woman in question failed to appear in last night's opening ceremony.

Thousands of athletes took part in last night's parade, which began at the iconic Champs-Elysees and culminated in a large celebration at Place de la Concorde.

Speaking to the New Times, captain of the sitting volleyball team Liliane Mukobwankawe said: "Our aim in France is to showcase significant progress as athletes participating in our third Paralympic Games. We are currently ranked fifth in the world, and we plan to demonstrate that growth on the global stage.

The team’s head coach, Dr. Mosaad Elauity, added: "We are not going there just to play; we are going to compete. I believe we can achieve great results because the team has improved in all aspects. We won't make it easy for those top-ranked countries.

"Our long-term goal is the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics, but what we achieve now will set the foundation for that. I know there will be mistakes due to the lack of friendly matches to iron them out, but we will do our best." 

Both Mukobwankawe and Dr. Elauity will hope that their missing team member can be found safe and sound before the next sitting volleyball match against Slovenia on Saturday.

Rwanda have only ever one Paralympic medal in their history.

That was won by Jean de Dieu Nkundabera, who claimed bronze in the 800-meter race at the 2004 Athens Paralympics.

The African nation was also represented in four sports in the Summer Olympic Games earlier this year. However, they failed to earn a medal across athletics, cycling, fencing and swimming.

A statement on Wednesday morning, just hours before the Paralympics opening ceremony, confirmed “the referral to the BRDP (the Brigade for the Suppression of Crimes against Persons) as part of an investigation into a worrying disappearance.”

The Rwandan ambassador has since visited the location of the athlete’s disappearance.

An investigation is being conducted by the Nanterre prosecutor’s office.