Pakistan and Uganda athletes ‘missing’ after Commonwealth Games

An investigation is underway in Scotland concerning the disappearance of foreign athletes, believed to be Ugandan and Pakistani boxers, who failed to return home following the conclusion of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. "Scotland Police has received reports of several athletes who are unaccounted for," a spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday evening. "Investigations are currently being conducted to determine the circumstances, and initial discussions are being held with the Home Office."

According to reports from Uganda's NBS Sport, four of the six members from Uganda's boxing team have gone missing prior to their expected return home on Tuesday. One of the boxers expressed to the broadcaster their intention to seek asylum. The Pakistan Today website also reported that one of their boxers did not appear for their flight back to their country on Tuesday.

The occurrence of missing athletes after the Commonwealth Games is not a new phenomenon. In the past, similar situations have arisen after the games hosted in Australia and Britain. Following the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, authorities remained in search of 50 athletes and officials a month after the event, while another 190 athletes had applied for asylum. The Glasgow Games, which saw participation from 3,000 athletes from 74 nations over 11 days, also experienced such instances.