All of the athletes had completed their respective competitions, and it is suspected that they fled the Games to hide throughout Europe for economic reasons.

We've seen this phenomenon before, specifically with Cuban baseball players who defect by fleeing their hotels when they travel for international competitions. But it's unclear if that's the case this time.

Boxers Thomas Essomba, Christian Donfack Adjoufack, Abdon Mewoli, Blaise Yepmou Mendouo and Serge Ambomo all went missing on Sunday, and swimmer Paul Ekane Edingue cannot be found in the Olympic village.