Friday. 29.03.2024

A Ugandan athlete who went missing in Japan last week after failing to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics has been spotted at Nagoya Station in central Japan by CCTV, news agency Kyodo reported on Monday citing a police source.

Uganda's Olympic delegation said on Friday weightlifter Julius Ssekitoleko has been registered as missing from a team training camp in Izumisano, some 200 kilometres south-west of Nagoya. He is being sought by the police.

Kyodo cited Izumisano officials as saying the athlete left a note at his hotel saying he wanted to work in Japan before buying a train ticket to Nagoya.

Beatrice Ayikoru, head of the Ugandan delegation, said the 20-year-old was supposed to fly home on Tuesday, adding the team would cooperate with authorities in the search.

The Ugandan team arrived in Japan last month but after two positive coronavirus tests - despite every member being vaccinated - only started training two weeks ago.

Ugandan athlete missing in Japan spotted on CCTV