Key facts
- Reported missing
- Several athletes unaccounted for
- Reported source
- NBS Sport reports four members of Uganda's boxing team missing
- Police statement
- Inquiries ongoing, early engagement with Home Office
- Games scale
- Nearly 3,000 athletes from 74 nations
- Official comment
- Ugandan ministry of education and sports contacted for comment
Background
Police Scotland has received reports of several athletes who are unaccounted for after the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. The force said inquiries are ongoing to assess the circumstances and that early engagement is taking place with the Home Office.
The Ugandan sporting news website NBS Sport reported that four members of Uganda's boxing team have gone missing in Scotland. According to the website, the athletes did not rejoin the rest of the delegation before the team's scheduled return to Uganda on Tuesday.
Current situation
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Police Scotland has received reports of several athletes who are unaccounted for. Inquiries are ongoing to assess the circumstances, and early engagement is taking place with the Home Office."
Commonwealth Games chief executive Phil Batty told the Press Association on Monday: "We've welcomed nearly 3,000 athletes to the city from 74 nations. We want to deliver a safe and secure games, so we work really closely with Police Scotland, the Border Force, and UK visas and immigration to make sure everyone arrives and departs in line with regulation."
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Athletes welcomed | nearly 3,000 |
| Nations represented | 74 |
Impacts
The Press Association understands that the Home Office will take action accordingly if it is made aware of any breaches of immigration law, and that it takes all necessary steps to prevent people who could abuse the immigration system from entering the UK.
The Home Office maintains a policy of not routinely commenting on individual asylum cases, with claims considered on their individual merits in accordance with the UK's international obligations. The Ugandan ministry of education and sports has been contacted for comment.
Future outlook
Scenario analysis: The possibilities below are not certain predictions.
If the athletes are found to have breached immigration rules, the Home Office could take action, which may include removal from the UK. However, the specific circumstances remain unclear, and no official confirmation has been provided about the number or identities of the missing athletes.
The ongoing inquiries by Police Scotland and engagement with the Home Office may lead to further updates. Depending on the outcome, the Commonwealth Games organisers could review their departure procedures, but no such decision has been announced.
Source: surreycomet.co.uk
