Ugandan weightlifter found after fleeing pre-Olympics camp
A Ugandan weightlifter has been found after fleeing his pre-Olympics training camp in western Japan last week.
Via the Associated Press, Japanese police are currently questioning Julius Ssekitoleko about where he's been and what he's been doing since he left his hotel in Izumisano. Ssekitoleko was found in Yokkaichi, which is over 100 miles from Izumisano.
Why did Julius Ssekitoleko flee?
Ssekitoleko came to Japan in the hopes of making the Olympic team, but the AP reported that he didn't meet international ranking standards and was set to return to Uganda in the coming days.
Ssekitoleko departed from his hotel in Izumisano on Friday, leaving behind his luggage and a note that said he didn't want to go back to Uganda and wanted to work in Japan.
Uganda is ranked 159 out of 189 countries in the UN's Human Development Index, which measures "average achievement in key dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable and have a decent standard of living."
The Ugandan embassy released a statement about Ssekitoleko's disappearance and subsequent reappearance, saying that they're working with Japanese officials to assure Ssekitoleko's "safe and secure return to Uganda as soon as tomorrow, 21st July, 2021."
Ugandan embassy says it is “actively seized” on the matter of the runaway weightlifter in Tokyo. Japanese authorities say he has been found in Nagoya. 🏋🏽♀️ 🇺🇬 pic.twitter.com/75se1XVrcS
— tariq panja (@tariqpanja) July 20, 2021
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