Number of Commonwealth Games athletes seeking to stay much higher

The number of African athletes and staff who went missing during Commonwealth Games is “much higher” than first thought.

The number of African athletes and team staff who went missing during the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games is “much higher” than previously believed with new reports suggesting “hundreds” have sought asylum in Australia.

ABC Radio National this morning revealed the number of missing sportsmen and women was “significantly higher” than the numbers previously reported, saying “up to 100” people have sought asylum in Australia.

President of the Refugee Council of Australia Phil Glendenning told the ABC’s Hamish MacDonald his analysis was “pretty well right’’.

“We don’t know the exact number but it’s certainly more than the 13 kicked around on 2GB last week”.

Mr Glendenning said instances of people coming to Australia to participate in events and then seeking asylum was “not unusual” and the “same thing happened” after the 2006 games in Melbourne and after Catholic Youth Day.

On Tuesday, Sydney’s Refugee Advice and Casework Service principal solicitor Sarah Dale confirmed the organisation had helped a number of people lodge applications for protection, before their games visas expired at midnight.

The applicants will need to demonstrate they fear persecution, whether it be on religious, race, nationality, social group or political affiliation grounds.

Australian Border Force said visa overstayers were “a common feature of many major international events”.

It refused to comment on individual cases but issued a warning to those attempting to remain in Australia without engaging with authorities.

“They should be aware that anyone in Australia without a valid visa will be subject to enforcement measures aimed at locating, detaining and removing them from Australia,” ABF said in a statement.

When news of the exodus broke during the Games, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said the runaway representatives would not be allowed to stay in the country if they breached the conditions of their visas.

“These people and others who might have a similar objective need to hear this message very clearly: they aren’t going to game the system, they aren’t going to stay here and the Australian Border Force officers in the compliance division will find these people, they will be held in immigration detention until they can be deported,” he told 2GB radio at the time.

With AAP