Belarus Olympian safe in Tokyo hotel after refusing ‘forced’ flight home
Belarus Olympian safe in Tokyo hotel after refusing ‘forced’ flight home
editor
Published August 2, 2021
A Belarusian Olympian who refused her team’s order to fly home early is safe after seeking protection from Japanese police, Games officials have said.
Sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, 24, spent the night in a hotel at Tokyo’s Haneda airport. She says she was forcibly taken to the airport on Sunday for criticising coaches.
Belarus says she was removed from the team because of her emotional state.
The Czech Republic and Poland have offered the athlete a visa.