Athletes disappear from Commonwealth Games

MELBOURNE, March 23 (UPI) -- Australian police say nine athletes have disappeared from the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

Seven athletes from the Sierra Leone team have been missing for two days, the BBC reported Thursday. Earlier this week two other athletes -- one from Tanzania and the other from Bangladesh -- also disappeared.

Officials from the Sierra Leone team said they don't know if their teammates hope to seek asylum in Australia, adding that the disappearance had "dampened the team spirit."

"Obviously there is a feeling that it is not the nicest thing to do to the host country and your teammates to walk out," said team spokesman Robert Green.

Australia's Immigration Department said the athletes' visas are valid until April 26.

Police are treating the case as a missing persons investigation and have urged anyone with information about the athletes to contact police.

During the last Commonwealth Games, in Manchester, England, more than 20 athletes from Sierra Leone disappeared.