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Members of the Congo team say they are regarded as traitors after criticising President Joseph Kabila while in London Athletes and coaches from the Democratic Republic of Congo have decided to seek asylum in the UK. Photograph: Sophia Evans for the Observer Six members of the Olympic and Paralympic teams from the Democratic Republic of Congo are planning to claim political asylum on Monday after the conclusion of the 2012 games. The athletes and coaches, who are appealing to the UK government for sanctuary, say murders of opponents by government forces and other human rights abuses are on the increase. They claim the situation has deteriorated sharply since the elections last November in which President Joseph Kabila was re-elected despite claims that his main rival Etienne Tshisekedi was the true winner. Widespread violence was reported during the election period. Those claiming asylum are Paralympic ath...

Samia was said to have moved to Ethiopia in search of a coach A Somali Olympic athlete has reportedly drowned while attempting to reach Europe on a migrant boat. Runner Samia Yusuf Omar was trying to cross from Libya to Italy in April when the boat she was travelling in sank, according to Italian media. The head of Somalia's National Olympic Committee confirmed to the BBC that she had died but did not say how. Samia competed in the 200m event at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 despite having almost no formal training. Although she came in last place, several seconds behind the other competitors, the BBC's Alan Johnston in Rome says it is extraordinary that she was able to take part at all. She had grown up and trained in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, facing war, poverty, a complete lack of athletics facilities and prejudice from some quarters against women participating in sports. According to a profile ...

South Sudanese refugee to run Olympic marathon as an independent US-based Guor Marial has won the right to compete as a stateless athlete after refusing to compete under Sudan's flag Share 113 Email David Smith , Johannesburg guardian.co.uk ,  Monday 23 July 2012 19.55 BST Jump to comments  ( 10 ) Guor Marial runs along a street in Flagstaff, Arizona, where he now lives after escaping Sudan's civil war as a child. Photograph: Darryl Webb/REUTERS A refugee from  Sudan 's civil war has won his  battle  to compete in the Olympic marathon as an independent runner without a country. US-based Guor Marial had turned down the chance to run for Sudan, could not represent America because he is not a full citizen and was unable to wear the colours of his first choice,  South Sudan , because it is not sending a team to London. But the 28-year-old's late plea to enter as a stateless athlete under the Olympic flag  has now been gr...