7 Cameroon athletes missing from Olympics

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LONDON, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Cameroon Olympic officials told their government Tuesday its seven missing athletes, missing from the Olympic Village, may be seeking asylum.

Five boxers, a swimmer and a women's soccer player were reported missing this and authorities admitted Tuesday they fear the athletes may be looking to stay in Europe for what they called "economic reasons," the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph said Tuesday.

In a letter to Cameroon's Ministry of Sports and Physical Education, David Ojong, Cameroon's head of mission to the Olympics, said the group had "disappeared," saying "What began as rumor has finally turned out to be true," the newspaper said.

The British Home Office, noting all athletes can "freely leave the Olympic Games Village if they wish," said none of the seven had applied for asylum in Britain.