Suspense over boxers missing after CWG remain unresolved after a week

A week after the Glasgow Commonwealth Games concluded, the whereabouts of four Ugandan boxers and one Pakistani athlete remain unknown. The athletes - Ibrahim Kemis, Nuhu Batte, Emily Nakalema, Angel Katushabe and Qudrat Ullah - were expected to depart for home following the event, but have not been seen since their scheduled departure time.

According to a source from Uganda, the missing boxers were reportedly seeking asylum in the UK to access better training facilities. However, the current location of the athletes remains unclear. Police Scotland has been alerted to the situation and is collaborating with the Home Office to investigate. The Glasgow 2026 organizers emphasized their commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all 3,000 athletes participating from 74 nations and territories.

The Ugandan chef de mission dismissed any political motives behind the boxers' disappearance, stating that he is unaware of the reason for their actions. Initial reports suggest the boxers were initially hosted by a boxing gym in Glasgow, though the gym owner has not commented on the matter. Such incidents are not uncommon at major sporting events; 27 individuals did not leave after the 2002 Manchester Games, 66 after Glasgow 2014, and 17 after Birmingham in 2022.

The trend is not exclusive to the Commonwealth Games; athletes from Cameroon, Sudan, and the Ethiopian flag-bearer attempted asylum claims in the UK following the 2012 London Olympics.