A FORMER Colchester student has spoken about working at this year’s Olympics as he heaped praise on boxer Lewis Richardson. Gonzalo Barrio, 36, lives in Switzerland and studied at the University of Essex between 2009 to 2012, earning a Bachelor of Economics during his time in the city. Mr Barrio originally planned to work in finance, but this all changed after he volunteered at the 2012 London Olympic Games as a team coordinator for the West African country of Benin.
He was inspired by the sense of pride and community the games instilled and decided to change career paths. Volunteering - a photo of Gonzalo Barrio and fellow volunteers at the London 2012 Olympic Games (Image: Gonzalo Barrio) After moving to Switzerland, in 2015, he joined the International Olympic Committee and from 2016 became the project manager of the Refugee Olympic Team. It’s a scholarship programme which helps displaced athletes from their home countries compete in the Olympic games.
Mr Barrio has managed all three IOC Refugee Olympic Teams, the first was in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the second in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, and now the third in Paris. Mr Barrio was at the Paris Olympic Games for work, supporting stars like boxer Cindy Ngamba who made history by earning a bronze medal, a first for the refugee team. Cindy not only represented the refugee team but also Team GB Boxing.
At the Champion Park, where many athletes celebrated together, Mr Barrio bumped into Colchester boxer, Lewis Richardson, who also took home a bronze medal. Happy - Gonzalo Barrio at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games with some of the members of the Refugee Olympic Team (Image: Gonzalo Barrio) He said: “What was great not only did Cindy win, but she is also training with Team GB. “Both Lewis and Cindy were working as representatives of Team GB boxers in Champions Park.
“I spoke with him, I told him I lived in Colchester for three years, I normally don’t take pictures with athletes in my role, but we talked about the Playhouse, Greenstead, and the university. “I thought about my friends in Colchester, so we took a picture, and this was on the way to Champions Park. “Lewis was amazing.
Refugee Olympic Team’s Cindy Winner Djankeu Ngamba before her bout against Panama’s Atheyna Bibeichi Bylon during the Women’s 75kg Semi-Final at Roland-Garros Stadium on the thirteenth day of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in France. Picture date: Thursday August 8, 2024 (Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire) “Cindy had to wait until the final to physically receive her bronze medal but Lewis lent his medal to Cindy so she could take pictures and also feel like a champion. “I thought it was really beautiful.
“There wasn’t a dry eye in sight. “It was a very emotional moment for everyone there. “I think Colchester can be very proud of such a champion.
” For Mr Barrio, who still has “strong feelings for Colchester” as it is a “great city”, working as part of the refugee team is an amazing feeling. Celebrating - Cindy Ngamba with Gonzalo Barrio and other staff members once she received her bronze medal (Image: Gonzalo Barrio) “We provide an opportunity to these athletes, people who were champions in their country of origin. These athletes had to leave because they weren’t safe.
“These athletes have dedicated themselves to participate in the Olympic Games. “They can fulfil their dreams, we give them an opportunity to continue to compete, train, and reach the Olympic Games. “It’s about inspiring refugees and displaced people around the world, if you give them the funding, support, they can do it.
” To find out more about the IOC Refugee Olympic Team, visit olympics.com/ioc/refugee-olympic-team..
