Commonwealth's Sporting Spirit: Now Please Go
Sydney Morning Herald
Thursday February 24, 2005
An African country will confiscate its athletes' passports and employ chaperones to stop them from staying in Australia after next year's Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
The Immigration Department also is considering upgrading scrutiny on flights into Australia. With the Federal Government set to commit $84.8million to the Games security effort, it has been revealed that Sierra Leonian athletes will be stripped of travel documents and restricted to moving around Melbourne in chaperoned groups during the Games. The measures were designed by the Sierra Leonian National Olympic Committee, whose president, M.H.G. Moore, said they would help prevent an embarrassing repeat of the 2002 Games in Manchester, when 70 per cent of the squad disappeared into British society."The [Sierra Leone] Government is very, very anxious to make sure people just don't run away," he said. About 30 athletes and officials marched under Sierra Leone's banner at the Manchester opening ceremony. Twenty-one squad members failed to board their flight home.Mr Moore said Sierra Leone would take only half as many athletes to Melbourne to ensure all were serious competitors. Their passports, tickets and travel documents would be held by the Sierra Leone team leader. "We will also try to restrict their movements as much as possible," Mr Moore said.He said he expected the level of security provided by Australia in Melbourne to be "rather higher" than in Manchester.The Immigration Department said it was considering having more "airline liaison officers" at foreign airports in the lead-up to the Games. Australia has 17 airline liaison officers checking the visa and travel documents of passengers boarding inbound flights at 12 international airports.
© 2005 Sydney Morning Herald