Syrian judo athlete seeks asylum in Germany post-Olympics

Pro-government media in Damascus reported that Syrian judo representative Hasan Bayan stayed in France after the Olympics. He then reportedly travelled to Germany, where he applied for asylum.

Firas Maalla, head of the Syrian Sports Federation Organisation, said that after Bayan participated in the Olympics and ended his stay in the Olympic Village, he asked the mission supervisor for permission to stay with his uncle, who lives in France. Bayan was supposed to remain with his family until his visa, granted to him as an athlete, expired.

Regarding the athlete’s escape and his application for asylum in Germany, Maalla denied that the Syrian Sports Federation Organisation knew any details about this. The official emphasised that Bayan lost his match to Austrian Samuel Gassner in the judo under 73 kilograms category and left the competition.

Syrian media launched a fierce attack on the athlete. The television station "Al-Khabar" prepared an extensive report in which it depicted the athlete as a "failure". The 22-year-old was accused of opportunism and acting to the detriment of his homeland.

The report echoed the question, who initially allowed him to go to Paris? The television highlighted the fact that Hasan Bayan did not qualify for the Olympics. Despite this, he received an invitation from the International Olympic Committee.

The organisation that oversees the Olympic movement invited selected athletes from countries that did not have enough participants. Their athletes did not meet the Olympic minimum through direct qualification. Syria received four invitations for athletes who had not achieved sufficient results. Among these four was Bayan.

The Syrian delegation to the Olympics in Paris had 6 athletes who competed in swimming, equestrian, weightlifting, athletics, judo, and gymnastics. None of the representatives won a medal in Paris.