Syrian judoka seeks asylum in Germany after olympic departure

Hasan Bayam did not return to Syria with the rest of the team after the Olympics. Local media report that the 22-year-old fled to Germany, where he is seeking asylum.

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

Firas Maalla, head of the Syrian Sports Federation Organization, said that after Bayam’s participation in the Olympics and the end of his stay in the Olympic Village, he asked the mission supervisor for permission to stay with his uncle who lives in France. Bayam was supposed to stay 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 Organization knew any details about this. The official emphasized that Bayam lost his match to Austrian Samuel Gassner in the judo under 161 pounds category and left the competition.

Syrian media launched a fierce attack on the athlete. The television station "Al-Khabar" prepared a long 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 Bayam did not qualify for the Olympics. Despite this, he received an invitation from the International Olympic Committee.

The organization 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 Bayam.

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.