Sierra Leone doubles squash players join list of missing African athletes
GOLD Coast residents are being asked to keep a lookout for runaway African athletes on the streets of the Glitter Strip as more go missing from the Commonwealth Games.
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GOLD Coast residents are being asked to keep a lookout for runaway African athletes on the streets of the Glitter Strip as more go missing from the Commonwealth Games.
At least 13 athletes from Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Uganda and Rwanda are thought to have done a runner as the Games draw to a close this weekend and Games officials are bracing for more desertions.
Sierra Leone men’s doubles squash players Ernest Jombla and Yusif Mansaray have failed to even show for matches including one yesterday against India.
Two boxers, who are among eight Cameroonians to vanish from the athletes village in a series of after-dark escapes, also did not bother to turn up to competition.
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As Immigration Minister Peter Dutton warned the wandering athletes they would be tracked down and deported, Commonwealth Games Federation chief David Grevemberg appealed for public help to find them.
Relaying a plea from Team Cameroon’s chef de mission, Mr Grevemberg said ‘if anyone has seen or knows (where the missing athletes are) ... please get back to him”.
“Our focus right now is supporting the teams and the chef de missions and their administrative teams to do what they can do to try and track down those athletes that are missing,” he said.
Mr Grevemberg confirmed two athletes from Uganda and one from Rwanda were also missing and said the CGF was investigating the non-appearance of the Sierra Leone squash players.
He said the athletes’ visas were not due to expire until May 15 and they were ‘still free to travel’ within Australia.
“We’ve obviously been in close contact with the Cameroonian Commonwealth Games Association and we share their concern regarding the safety, welfare and whereabouts of these athletes,” Mr Grevemberg said.
He said 22 remaining members of the Cameroon team had been sent home but officials had denied this was to stop more athletes fleeing.
Mr Dutton yesterday warned the missing athletes they would not be given preferential treatment.
“They aren’t going to game the system,” he said.
“They aren’t going to stay here. The Australian Border Force officers in the compliance division there will find these people and they will be held in immigration detention until they can be deported.”
Dozens of foreign athletes disappeared after the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
Originally published as Sierra Leone doubles squash players join list of missing African athletes
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