The Paralympic athlete, who specialises in sitting volleyball, disappeared at around 19:00 CEST after leaving the Courbevoie camp in Hauts-de-Seine, where her delegation was staying. According to a police source, the athlete left the premises intending to go to a restaurant but never returned. Her disappearance was reported the following day at around 13:00 CEST by the President of the Rwandan Olympic Committee.

The Nanterre prosecutor's office, which has taken over the investigation due to the location of the Paralympic delegation in Courbevoie, confirmed the opening of an investigation for "worrying disappearance". This investigation is being led by the BRDP (Brigade for the Suppression of Delinquency against Persons) and was initiated following a complaint lodged at the Saint Ouen police station. The aforementioned police source added that the Rwandan ambassador has been informed of the situation and has travelled to the site.

This incident has added a note of concern at a time when Paris is embracing a context of sporting celebration following the opening of the 2024 Paralympic Games, the first event of its kind in France's history. French authorities, together with Rwandan representatives, are working diligently to resolve this case and ensure the safety of all participating athletes.

The unidentified athlete was scheduled to participate in her country's first sitting volleyball match against Brazil this morning. According to the official team roster on the Paris 2024 website, Rwanda had a squad of 16 players, compared to Brazil's team of 18. She was reportedly also set to join the opening ceremony, but just hours before the event at Place de la Concorde, a statement released on Wednesday morning confirmed that the case had been referred to the BRDP as part of an investigation into a concerning disappearance.

It is not the first time athletes at a Games have gone missing. Last month, Cuban judoka Dayle Ojeda travelled to Paris to assist with preparations but fled to Spain, where she hopes to attain political asylum and one day represent them in competition. At the London 2012 Olympics, five boxers, a swimmer, and a footballer from Cameroon's team disappeared from the athlete village amid reports they tried to claim asylum.