Five more African athletes may have vanished from the Commonwealth Games , organisers said Thursday , after eight competitors from Cameroon were suspected of fleeing a day earlier.
Gold Coast organisers confirmed reports that athletes from Rwanda and Uganda were thought to have gone missing , while they were also looking to verify the whereabouts of two squash players from Sierra Leone .
“ We’re obviously looking at it very carefully,” Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive David Grevemberg told reporters.
“We have a service to people who have legitimate visas to be in this country ,” he added .
“ Until it becomes a true issue and somebody has outstayed their visa, or have formally applied for asylum , we just need to continue to monitor the situations .
“ The focus now is to support teams in trying to track down the athletes who are missing . ”
More than 100 athletes overstayed their visas at the 2000 Sydney Olympics . Athlete visas for the Commonwealth Games expire on May 15 , Grevemberg said .
Eight athletes from conflict - hit Cameroon — one third of the central African country ’s 24 - strong team — were said to be missing from the Commonwealth Games on Wednesday , sparking an Australian Border Force manhunt .
As the search continues for Cameroon ’ s five boxers and three weightlifters, Grevemberg insisted the welfare of the athletes came first .
“ We obviously have been in close contact with Cameroon officials ,” he said .
“ We share their concern regarding obviously the safety , welfare, whereabouts of these athletes. ”
Cameroon team manager Victor Agbor Nso told local media he had reported the matter to police on Wednesday .
Australia ’s Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton warned that athletes would be forcibly removed from the country if they attempted to overstay their visas .
“ They aren ’t going to game the system ,” he told local radio. “Australian Border Force officers will find these people ( and) they’ll be held in immigration detention until they can be deported . ”

http://punchng.com/13-african-athletes-go-missing-at-commonwealth-games/

Sure way out of a shithole country... Nigerians are next.. Naija no de carry last