01:35Journalists, camera operators and photographers waited outside the Polish embassy in Tokyo, on Monday, after Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya was offered asylum.
On Sunday, Tsimanouskaya refused to board a flight back to Minsk, saying she was taken to the airport by Belarusian team managers against her will. According to Tsimanouskaya, she was forced to fly home early for publicly criticizing her coaches, as the athlete had taken to social media to complain about being picked to take part in a 400m relay event on short notice - a discipline she's had not prepared to compete in.
The 24-year-old Belarusian sprinter was removed from running the women's 200-meter race on Monday due to her "emotional and psychological state," said a statement from the Belarus Olympic Committee. Tsimanouskaya managed to miss the flight after seeking police protection at the airport.
Japan: Media wait outside Polish embassy as Belarusian sprinter is offered asylum
Journalists, camera operators and photographers waited outside the Polish embassy in Tokyo, on Monday, after Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya was offered asylum.
On Sunday, Tsimanouskaya refused to board a flight back to Minsk, saying she was taken to the airport by Belarusian team managers against her will. According to Tsimanouskaya, she was forced to fly home early for publicly criticizing her coaches, as the athlete had taken to social media to complain about being picked to take part in a 400m relay event on short notice - a discipline she's had not prepared to compete in.
The 24-year-old Belarusian sprinter was removed from running the women's 200-meter race on Monday due to her "emotional and psychological state," said a statement from the Belarus Olympic Committee. Tsimanouskaya managed to miss the flight after seeking police protection at the airport.
Journalists, camera operators and photographers waited outside the Polish embassy in Tokyo, on Monday, after Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya was offered asylum.
On Sunday, Tsimanouskaya refused to board a flight back to Minsk, saying she was taken to the airport by Belarusian team managers against her will. According to Tsimanouskaya, she was forced to fly home early for publicly criticizing her coaches, as the athlete had taken to social media to complain about being picked to take part in a 400m relay event on short notice - a discipline she's had not prepared to compete in.
The 24-year-old Belarusian sprinter was removed from running the women's 200-meter race on Monday due to her "emotional and psychological state," said a statement from the Belarus Olympic Committee. Tsimanouskaya managed to miss the flight after seeking police protection at the airport.