More African Olympians ‘missing’ after London 2012 games

Six athletes are believed to be missing following the Summer Olympics, all of whom..

15:00 15 August 2012

Six athletes are believed to be missing following the Summer Olympics, all of whom are members of the Guinea and Ivory Coast teams.

 

It is understood that the rest of the two teams have made their way home already.

 

Officials confirmed on Tuesday that a sports coach and two swimmers from the Ivory Coast were missing.

 

In a quote reported by the Daily Mail, Adama Doumbia from the Ivory Coast ministry of sports and leisure said: “Three members of the delegation have not returned to the Olympic village.”

 

Four athletes from the Democratic Republic of Congo are also believed to be missing in London. 

 

Officials believe those missing from this group consist of coaches Blaise Bekwa, Guy Nkita and Ibula Masengo according to the BBC.

 

The news comes around a week after seven Cameroon athletes were confirmed to be missing from the Games.

 

According to the Daily Mail, Cameroon authorities have accused five of these seven athletes - all boxers - of wanting to be economic migrants. 

 

The absconders are not breaking British immigration rules as they have been adapted for the games, enabling athletes and their families to stay in the country until November.

 

Previous figures suggest that over 20 athletes from Africa sought asylum in the UK following the Commonwealth Games in 2002.