Organizers are now urging athletes in Australia for the Commonwealth Games to respect the terms of their entry visas after the Cameroon team reported five of their competitors had gone missing.
Cameroon Press attache Simon Molombe told the BBC officials viewed it as “desertion” and that the missing athletes had been reported to Australian police.
Officials named the missing athletes as weightlifters Olivier Matam Matam, Arcangeline Fouodji Sonkbou and Petit Minkoumba, and boxers Christian Ndzie Tsoye, Simplice Fotsala, Arsene Fokou, Ulrich Yombo and Christelle Ndiang.
The three weightlifters and five boxers were last seen at different times on Monday and Tuesday, he said.
Cameroon said the group had valid Australian visas until 15 May.
“The authorities are very disappointed with the deserters – some did not even compete,” Mr Molombe said.
“The pious hope is that they come back to the village and travel home with the others.”
The Commonwealth Games Federation said it would monitor the situation but athletes had “the right to travel freely” on their visas.
Organizing committee chairman Peter Beattie said they had worked hard with the Australian government on the entry system and he “encouraged” the 6,000 visiting athletes and officials not to breach the terms of their visas.
“It happens at every Games and it’s not a surprise,” Beattie added.
In 2012, seven Cameroonian athletes disappeared while in London for the Summer Olympics.
“I would simply say enjoy Australia while you are here, this includes Cameroon and any other athletes, stay within the law and be mindful of the fact that there is a system in place in this country,” he told a news conference on Wednesday.
“We would appreciate them sticking within the law, enjoying themselves, but sticking within the law. If they are thinking of doing anything other, I would encourage them not to do it.”
Queensland Police told Reuters it was a “matter for the Cameroon Commonwealth Games Association to address” until such point that the athletes overstayed their visas.
Illegal immigration is a highly contentious political issue in Australia and Peter Dutton, the country’s home affairs minister, issued a warning to athletes in January that they would be deported if they overstayed.
