Visa delays force Chris Thompson to miss World Athletics Championships

World Athletics Championships

  • British marathon runner says he is ‘absolutely devastated’
  • Michael Johnson criticised authorities over problems
Chris Thompson, here in action during the Tokyo Olympics, will not take part in Eugene.
Crazypyar

 in Eugene, OregoFri 15 Jul 2022 16.02 6

The British athlete Chris Thompson has said he is “absolutely devastated” after becoming a victim of the huge visa problems that have cast a cloud over the first World Athletics Championships in the US.

The hugely popular 41-year-old was due to compete in the men’s marathon in Eugene on Sunday but was forced to pull out less than 48 hours beforehand because of significant delays in the processing of his US visa.

World artics said 374 visa cases involving athletes or officials have now been flagged to them – with just under 100 still unresolved.

Athletes train on the running track while workers add signage to a water jump.

UK Athletics confirmed it had been in close contact with World Athletics and had even enlisted the help of the British government to solve a last-minute hold up but “time had run out”.

Advertisement

“I’m absolutely devastated I won’t be in Eugene to compete,” said Thompson. “This was my major aim for the year and I had prepared well for it. I’ll never know what might have been but I had high expectations of myself. It should never have got to this point and it’s hard to believe it has.

“However, I’m very grateful to my close network of family, friends, colleagues and officials who supported and rallied for me, to try to amend the situation

The team leader, Paula Dunn, expressed her support for Thompson, adding: “We are gutted that Chris will miss the worlds as he has worked incredibly hard to be in a position to race here.”

download 8 2 - Crazy Pyar
Crazypyar

Hundreds of others have found themselves in a similar position, with the Kenyan sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala – who has run the third fastest 100m time this year – only expected to arrive in Eugene hours before Friday evening’s heat.

The issue appears to stem from huge backlogs at US embassies, where athletes must schedule an appointment and interview in order to obtain a temporary visa.

However, organisers have also been criticised by the BBC commentator Michael Johnson for failing to do more. “This is ridiculous!”  olyalis known that a US entry visa may be one of the most difficult and WA [World Athletics] and the organizing committee didn’t get ahead of this?”

Sebastian Coe, the president of World Athletics, admitted the issue was a cause for concern and more athletes could miss out. “The one thing which is clear to me as we battle to do as much as we possibly can is it is complicated,” Lord Coe said. “In relative percentage terms it’s a small number but it’s of no comfort if you are in that category. We will work right up to the last minute but will we be able to resolve all those issues in time for the start of competition? No, we won’t.”

Visa delays force Chris Thompson to miss World Athletics Championships

download 9 1 - Crazy Pyar

… as you’re joining us today from India, we have a small favour to ask. Tens of millions have placed their trust in the Guardian’s fearless journalism since we started publishing 200 years ago, turning to us in moments of crisis, uncertainty, solidarity and hope. More than 1.5 million supporters, from 180 countries, now power us financially – keeping us open to all, and fiercely independent.

Unlike many others, the Guardican has no shareholders and no billionaire owner. Just the determination and passion to deliver high-impact global reporting, always free from commercial or political influence. Reporting like this is vital for democracy, for fairness and to demand better from the powerful.

And we provide all this for free, for everyone to read. We do this because we believe in information equality. Greater numbers of people can keep track of the events shaping our world, understand their impact on people and communities, and become inspired to take meaningful action. Millions can benefit from open access to quality, truthful news, regardless of their ability to pay for it

Every contribution, however big or small, powers our journalism and sustains our future.

Leave a Reply