London Summer Olympics 2012
An Olympic competitor has claimed political asylum in Britain, the Mail can reveal.
The man (believed to be a middle distance runner in his mid 20′s from Africa) was being held by the UK Borders Agency last night after walking into a police station in Leeds and asking for asylum.
The claim comes at a hugely sensitive time for the government just two days before the showpiece Opening Ceremony.
It follows warnings from immigration officials that they fear up to 2 per cent of athletes, team officials and supporters may claim refuge in the UK during and after the Games or try to stay on once their visas expire.
But the claim even before competition has begun is said to have shocked both Border Agency officials and ministers as they prepare to host some 120 world leaders tomorrow, when London 2012 is opened by the Queen.
It is understood the athlete disappeared from a pre-Olympics training camp in order to claim asylum. Just as he and his team was preparing to move to the athletes’ village in Stratford, East London.
London Olympics 2012.
Greek Olympic officials have expelled their champion triple jumper Voula Papachristou from the London 2012 Olympic Games for racist and offensive comments on Twitter.
Papachristou, still in Athens, is now banned from travelling to London for the Games after a series of offensive posts on African immigrants. She is the first athlete sanctioned from the Olympics for a social media offence.
She had written that “with so many Africans in Greece, at least the mosquitoes of West Nile will eat homemade food”.
Papachristou said since being notified of the action by the Greek Olympic Committee – “I would like to express my heartfelt apologies for the unfortunate and tasteless joke I published on my personal Twitter account. I am very sorry and ashamed for the negative responses I triggered, since I never wanted to offend anyone, or to encroach human rights.”
The British Olympic Association spokesman Darryl Seibel said none of the 542 Team GB members had been sanctioned or given official warnings for any remarks made on social media sites, but team leaders have been asked to remind athletes of their contractual agreements.
“The team leaders were told to remind the athletes of the importance of being tasteful on social media sites” – Seibel said.
Papachristou said her dream was connected to the Olympic Games and argued that she respected the Olympic values and apologised to friends and athletes whom she may have insulted.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY0GAsQXskY
Mitt Romney (the Republican presidential nominee) has questioned Britain’s preparedness to host the London 2012 Olympics and asked whether the country is genuinely willing to “celebrate” the Games.
Mr Romney (who was chief executive of the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City in 2002) spoke on the first day of a visit to Britain.
He will meet the British political leadership in London on Thursday, including David Cameron, the prime minister, and Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister. Mr Romney is then expected to attend the Olympics opening ceremony on Friday.
But he told US television there were “disconcerting” signs about Britain’s readiness. “It’s hard to know just how well it will turn out” – he said. “There are a few things that were disconcerting – the stories about the private security firm not having enough people, supposed strike of the immigration and customs officials, that obviously is not something which is encouraging.”
G4S, a private security company, provided thousands fewer staff than were expected, forcing the armed forces to fill the gap. British immigration officers had threatened to go on strike during the Olympics, but this ultimatum was called off on Wednesday. The Government insists that all preparations have been made and the event will be a success.
Nonetheless, Mr Romney questioned the enthusiasm of the British public. “Do they come together and celebrate the Olympic moment?” he asked. “That’s something which we only find out once the Games actually begin.”