Date: Saturday, 30 March 2019
It is not known where five athletes from Eritrea are after they left their hotel rooms in Aarhus on Thursday.
The five people are in Denmark in connection with VM Cross, which is a championship event within a number of race disciplines.
Østjyllands Politi stated in a press release that it was the Danish Athletics Association that went to the police and told about the missing athletes.
"They don't have their passports with them when they are in the delegation's possession," writes the police.
Eritreans are so far legal in Denmark. They all have a visa that applies as long as the event in Aarhus lasts.
The people left the hotel and were not greeted at the events.
»The East Jutland Police would like to get in touch with the five missing persons. If you encounter them, you may very much like to contact the police on telephone 114, "says the press release.
It is not the first time that young athletes from abroad have disappeared in connection with a convention in Denmark.
In 2014, 11 young Indians disappeared from a handball tournament in Dronninglund in North Jutland. Several of them were found quickly again and traveled home to India immediately after.
Also internationally, there have been examples of athletes choosing to drop to meet up for a competition and instead have left the event.
Last year, 13 African athletes disappeared at the Commonwealth Games held in the Gold Coast of Australia.
At the 2012 London Olympics, apparently, it was not just about medals and sports, as several athletes and members of the Congolese delegation disappeared in London.