Seven Cameroon Olympic athletes go missing

YAOUNDE ?? Seven Cameroon athletes have disappeared while in Britain for the London Olympics, the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education said on Monday evening.

1. Only on NBCNews.com

   1. Shooting from the Hip
   2. Alleged gunman, 'Jack Boot,' led neo-Nazi punk band
   3. Wounded cop in Sikh temple shooting praised as hero
   4. Prenatal drug targeted lesbians, researchers say
   5. Man blasts Alaska Airlines for treatment of fellow flier
   6. Interpol drops 'red notice' for dissident
   7. Victim?s son: Sikh community ?shook up? after shooting

The seven -- five boxers, a swimmer and a soccer player -- are suspected of having left to stay in Europe for economic reasons.

"What began as rumor has finally turned out to be true. Seven Cameroonian athletes who participated at the 2012 London Olympic Games have disappeared from the Olympic Village," David Ojong, the mission head said in a message sent to the ministry.

Ojong said a reserve goalkeeper for the women's soccer team, Drusille Ngako, was the first to disappear. She was not one of the 18 finally retained after pre-Olympic training in Scotland.

Full coverage in London 2012: Hosting the Games

While her team-mates left for Coventry for their last preparatory encounter against New Zealand, she vanished. A few days later, swimmer Paul Ekane Edingue and his personal belongings were also not found in his room.

Ojong added that five boxers eliminated from the games, Thomas Essomba, Christian Donfack Adjoufack, Abdon Mewoli, Blaise Yepmou Mendouo and Serge Ambomo, disappeared on Sunday from the Olympic village.

Will Games curse leave London out of gold rush?

International Olympic Committee officials said on Tuesday they had heard nothing about the missing athletes.

"We are unaware of it," IOC spokesman Mark Adams said when asked whether organizers had heard of it.

It is not the first time Cameroonian athletes have disappeared during international sports competitions.

At past Francophonie and Commonwealth games as well as junior soccer competitions, several Cameroonians have quit their delegation without official consent.

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Check for restrictions at: http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48545348/ns/world_news-london_2012_hosting_the_games/

martial law is jon bon jovi dead jon bon jovi jon bon jovi kim jong il died warren hellman survivor south pacific