In response to press reports today that an Olympic athlete from an African country has claimed asylum in the UK, Donna Covey Chief Executive of the Refugee Council said:

“It a tragic fact that many people competing in the Olympics come from countries around the world where they are at risk of human rights abuses, conflict, and violence. Asylum is a human right, meaning that anyone can apply for asylum in a safe country if they are being persecuted in their own. The UK is a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention which means we will offer protection to people who are found to be in need of it. So as we welcome the world to the UK for the Olympics, we must also uphold our proud tradition of offering safety to those fleeing persecution.”

ENDS

The story was first reported in the Daily Mail today.