Athletes go 'missing' after Commonwealth Games ends

What the report says

Several Ugandan boxers and other athletes are reported to have gone missing after the Commonwealth Games ended in Glasgow, according to reporting cited by Nile Post from BBC Sport, NBS Sport and other outlets. Police Scotland said it had received reports of athletes who were “unaccounted for” after the Games concluded on Sunday, and inquiries were underway with the Home Office.

NBS Sport reported that four members of Uganda’s boxing squad did not return home with the rest of the team. The missing boxers were named in local media as Nuhu Batte, Angel Katushabe, Ibrahim Kemis and Emily Nakalema. NBS Sport said it spoke to one of the athletes, who claimed the group planned to seek asylum and continue boxing in a country they believed offered better training and opportunities. Team Uganda declined to comment, while the rest of the squad had already left for Uganda.

The article also said Pakistan’s Qudratullah was not found with his team when officials looked for him, suggesting the issue was not limited to one delegation. For context, previous Commonwealth Games have also seen athletes disappear after competition, including in Glasgow in 2014. Organisers said they were working with Police Scotland, Border Force and UK Visas and Immigration as athletes and staff left the city. The situation matters because it raises questions about athlete welfare, security and immigration handling around major international sporting events.