DR Congo Judo Coach and Student Escape from Olympics

A judo athlete and three other coaches from the Democratic Republic of Congo have gone missing after leaving the athletes’ village at the London Olympics, the country’s sports ministry confirmed on August 13.

Accordingly, boxer Cedric Mandembo (participating in the over 100kg weight class), boxing coach Blaise Bekwa, athletics coach Guy Nkita and Judo coach Ibula Masengo disappeared without a trace after the closing ceremony on August 12.

They were scheduled to arrive in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, on August 16.

Congolese judo fighter Cedric Mandembo went missing before boarding a flight home. (Photo: Tel).

According to a source here, Mr. Bekwa has been missing since August 10 while Nkita, the country's athletics expert, left immediately after the country's athlete Ilunga Mande was eliminated from the race. No one has seen Mr. Masengo since August 11 while Mandembo went missing immediately after the closing ceremony ended.

Asked about the mysterious disappearances, Congolese Sports Minister Baudoin Banza Mukalay said: “I don’t know, I only left London this morning. Yesterday (August 12), I was with the officials right before the closing ceremony. They told me everything was fine.”

Congo had four athletes participate in the Olympics and all four were unsuccessful.

Mandembo was eliminated in his first match after just 49 seconds, Ilunga Sankuru finished 14th out of 15 athletes in the 1500m, while boxer Mwamba Meji was disqualified by a referee's decision. Marathon runner Ilunga Mande was disqualified after running 2km./.

According to (Vietnam+) - DT