Almost the entire handball team of Burundi disappeared during the World Under 19 Championship in Croatia. 10 of the 13 players are still missing. It is more common for sports teams to disappear at international competitions, but why and how often does it happen? Gijsbert Oonk, professor at ESHCC and a specialist in sports and migration, explains in an interview on Radio 1.
"Looking at the history of teams suddenly disappearing, the obvious thing to think is that the athletes fled because of the military regime or poverty in Burundi," Gijsbert explains. "Or maybe they have to go into military service and don't want to. And the sports visa they have may provide an opening to enter Europe, for example."
Since World War II, this kind of disappearance happens with almost every edition of the Olympics. Whereas before it was mainly athletes fleeing from communist countries from Eastern Europe, now it is mainly athletes from African countries.
In the interview on Radio 1, Gijsbert gives more explanations and interesting anecdotes.
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