YES WE CAM

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Cameroon's Olympic history, like that of the nation's in general, begins in the 1960s. In 1964, three years after the country gained independence from Britain and France to become a Federal Republic, Cameroon competed in the Tokyo Games. The plucky one-man team, consisting of track and field sprinter David Njitock, didn't return with any medals but at the 1968 Games in Mexico City, Joseph Bessal struck silver in the welterweight boxing.

Boxing has been a traditional strength of Cameroon sport and in the 1984 Los Angeles Games Martin Ndongo-Ebanga took home a bronze in the men's lightweight division. Then in the 2000 Sydney Games came the men's fabulous victory in the football, defeating a Spain side that included Xavi and Carles Puyol, both of whom went on to play in the winning 2010 World Cup Spanish team.

The decade that followed the 2000 Olympics belonged to the brilliant Françoise Mbango, who won triple jump gold at both the 2004 and 2008 Games. At the Beijing Games Mbango jumped 15.39m, a new Olympic record and the second longest leap in history.

Alas, Mbango has now jumped over to France, becoming a French citizen in 2010. That was, no doubt, one of the reasons for the decision of Cameroon's National Olympic and Sports Committee to bestow its inaugural Etoile D'Or (Golden Star) award on footballer Roger Milla earlier this year. The former striker, a member of the 1984 Olympic squad, received his accolade for his inspiring example to Cameroon sport.

Of course, the country fares better at the All-Africa Games (also held every four years) and in September 2011 the Cameroon squad won 33 medals, including eight golds and five silver, placing 8th out of 41 nations in the final medal table. One of those golds was won by the Cameroon women's football team, beating Ghana in the final, and the Lionesses will be present at the London Olympics. Not so the men. Despite winning gold at the 2000 Sydney Games, and reaching the quarter-finals of the 2008 Olympics (with a team that included Arsenal midfielder Alex Song and Marseille star Stéphane Mbia), Cameroon failed to qualify for London leaving the women to carry the football flag.

In the 48 years it's been competing in the Olympics, Cameroon has yet to win more than two medals at a Games. But with the talented Atangana, Mamba-Schlick and Mulema flying the flag, could the country's luck change in London?

Hugo Mamba-Schlick

Born 1 February 1982 

Event Men's triple jump 

Best performance 17.14m (a national record) at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India

Best Medal Silver medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games 

Did you know As well as winning a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games Mamba-Schlick also carried the Cameroon flag at the tournament's opening ceremony. But, despite his pride in his country, Mamba-Schlick was actually born in Sarcelles, a suburb of Paris. Though he returned to Cameroon for a few years, Mamba-Schlick came back to France aged nine to live with his uncle in Brest in Brittany. It was in the pretty harbour city that Mamba-Schlick first discovered his talent for jumping. Later he joined Rennes athletics club when he moved to the city to study. He is now based in Cherbourg, France, and competes for the AS Tourlaville.

Delphine Bertille Atangana

Born 16 August 1984 

Event Women's 100m sprint 

Personal best 11.24s for the 100m (2003)

Best medal 100m bronze at the 2010 Commonwealth Games 

Did you know Delphine comes from Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon, which is known as 'the city of seven hills' in a country that calls itself 'Africa in miniature' due to its varied climate, culture and vegetation. Situated on a 750m-high forested plateau, Yaoundé has a population of approximately 1.7million and has many natural tourist attractions as well as being the political hub of the country. The Nachtigal Falls, 50km east of Yaoundé, is one of the highest rapid waterfalls on the planet, while the village of Akok Bekoé is also within travelling distance of a series of six grottoes known as the Grottoes of the Pygmies. In Yaoundé itself there are numerous museums and monuments and the legendary indoor market at Mokolo gives visitors a genuine flavour of Africa. Though Yaoundé is 160km inland, its high altitude means that temperatures are usually pleasant despite the city's proximity to the equator.

Joseph Mulema

Born 13 September 1983 

Event Welterweight (under 69kg) boxing 

Personal best Reached the last eight of the 2008 Olympics 

Best medal Gold at the 2011 All-Africa Games 

Did you know Joseph comes from Douala, Cameroon's largest city and its commercial capital. Owing to the thriving petroleum industry, there are many bar, cafés and restaurants along the city's waterfront in which to kick back and enjoy a cool beer if the heat becomes too much. A few kilometres up the coast from Douala is the beach resort of Limbe, famous for its black volcanic sand and cool Atlantic waters (not to mention its 120-year-old stunning Botanical garden).For those who prefer their sand softer and more golden, try the resort of Kribi about 80km to the south of Douala. If you want something a little more energetic than a beach, head to Buea, between Limbe and Douala, home to Mount Cameroon, at 4102 metres the highest peak in West Africa. But bring your walking boots!

FR Yes we Cam

Gavin Mortimer nous présente trois athlètes camerounais, porteurs d'espoir pour une prochaine médaille olympique

L'histoire olympique du Cameroun commence dans les années 1960. En 1964, trois ans après son indépendance, le pays prend part aux Jeux Olympiques de Tokyo.

La courageuse équipe composée du seul sprinter David Njitock, rentre bredouille, mais aux Jeux de Mexico City en 1968, Joseph Bessal remporte une médaille d'argent en boxe.

La décennie qui suivit les Jeux Olympiques de 2000 fut celle de Françoise Mbango, brillante médaillée d'Or dans le triple saut aux Jeux de 2004 et de 2008. A Pékin, Mbango enregistra même un saut record de 15,39 m.

Malheureusement, elle concourt désormais pour la France, depuis qu'elle a acquis la nationalité française en 2010. Cela a sans aucun doute pesé sur la décision du Comité olympique camerounais d'accorder sa première Etoile D'Or au footballeur Roger Milla, plus tôt cette année. L'ancien attaquant, membre de l'équipe olympique de 1984, a reçu cette reconnaissance pour son exemple inspirant dans le monde sportif au Cameroun.

Depuis les 48 ans que le que le Cameroun participe aux compétitions olympiques, il doit encore se surpasser et rapporter plus que les deux médailles gagnées jusqu'à présent. Sa chance pourrait-elle tourner à Londres ? Jetons un oeil sur ses trois meilleurs athlètes olympiques.

Delphine Bertille Atangana Naissance : 1984 ; Discipline : le 100 m femmes ; Médaille : Bronze pour le 100 m, Jeux du Commonwealth 2010 ; Le saviez-vous :Delphine est originaire de Yaoundé, la capitale du Cameroun, la « ville des sept collines ».

Joseph Mulema Naissance : 1983 ; Discipline : boxe poids mi-moyen (sous 69 kg) ; Médaille : Or aux Jeux Africains 2011 ; Le saviez-vous : Joseph vient de Douala, plus grande ville et capitale économique du Cameroun.

Hugo Mamba-Schlick Naissance : 1982 ; Discipline : triple saut masculin ; Médaille : Argent aux Jeux du Commonwealth 2010 ; Le saviez-vous : Mamba-Schlick est né à Sarcelles, un faubourg du nord de Paris.

NL Yes we Cam

Gavin Mortimer heeft het over de 3 Kameroense topkandidaten voor een Olympische medaille

De Olympische geschiedenis van Kameroen start begin jaren 60. In 1964, drie jaar nadat het onafhankelijk werd van Frankrijk en Engeland, nam Kameroen deel aan de Olympische Spelen van Tokio. De eenmansploeg besta-ande uit atleet David Njitock haalde toen geen medaille binnen. In 1968 in Mexico Stad was het echter wel prijs toen Joseph Bessal zilver behaalde in weltergewicht boksen.

Het decennium na de Olympische Spelen van 2000 staat op naam van de briljante hinkstapspringster Françoise Mbango, die de Spelen won in 2004 en 2008. Mbango sprong tijdens de Spelen in Beijing 15,39 m.

Jammer genoeg werd Mbango in 2010 een Frans burger. Ongetwijfeld een van de redenen waarom het Kameroense Nationale Olympische- en Sportcomité besloot om zijn eerste Etoile d'Or award eerder dit jaar te overhandigen aan voetballer Roger Milla.

In de 48 jaar dat Kameroen al meedingt in de Spelen, heeft het slechts 2 medailles gewonnen. Keert hun geluk in Londen? Hieronder vindt u een overzicht van de 3 Kameroense beloftevolle atleten.

Delphine Bertille Atangana Geboren op: 16 augustus 1984; Sport: 100 m sprint voor vrouwen; Best medaille: brons tijdens de Commonwealth Games in 2010.

Joseph Mulema Geboren op: 13 september 1983; Sport: Weltergewicht (onder 69kg) boksen; Beste medaille: goud tijdens de All-Africa Games in 2011.

Hugo Mamba-Schlick Geboren op: 1 februari 1982; Sport: hinkstapspringen voor mannen; Beste medaille: zilver tijdens de Commonwealth Games in 2010.

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