The man, believed to be a middle distance runner in his mid 20s from Africa, was being held by the UK Borders Agency Tuesday night after walking into a police station in Leeds and asking for asylum, The Daily Mail reported.
It follows warnings from immigration officials that they fear up to 2 per cent of athletes, team officials and supporters may claim refuge in the UK during and after the Games or try to stay on once their visas expire.
It is understood the athlete disappeared from a pre-Olympics training camp in order to claim asylum, just as he and his team was preparing to move to the athletes
