Yaonde - Seven
Cameroon athletes have disappeared while in Britain for the London
Olympics, the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education said on Monday
evening.
The seven - five boxers, a swimmer and a soccer player - are suspected of having left to stay in Europe for economic reasons.
"What began as rumour has finally turned out to be true. Seven
Cameroonian athletes who participated at the 2012 London Olympic Games
have disappeared from the Olympic Village," David Ojong, the mission
head said in a message sent to the ministry.
Ojong said a reserve goalkeeper for the women's soccer team,
Drusille Ngako, was the first to disappear. She was not one of the 18
finally retained after pre-Olympic training in Scotland.
While her team-mates left for Coventry for their last preparatory
encounter against New Zealand, she vanished. A few days later, swimmer
Paul Ekane Edingue and his personal belongings were also not found in
his room.
Ojong added that five boxers eliminated from the games, Thomas
Essomba, Christian Donfack Adjoufack, Abdon Mewoli, Blaise Yepmou
Mendouo and Serge Ambomo, disappeared on Sunday from the Olympic
village.
International Olympic Committee officials said on Tuesday they had heard nothing about the missing athletes.
"We are unaware of it," IOC spokesman Mark Adams said when asked whether organisers had heard of it.
It is not the first time Cameroonian athletes have disappeared during international sports competitions.
At past Francophonie and Commonwealth games as well as junior
soccer competitions, several Cameroonians have quit their delegation
without official consent.
-Reuters