procycling

517 readers

1 users here now

for news and discussion of professional cycling

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

Biniam Girmay denied visa for World Championships (content.globalcyclingnetwork.com)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by gxabbo to c/procycling

6 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Biniam Girmay and four of his fellow Eritreans denied visas to the UK.

Edit: Unconfirmed as of yet. All other sources quote GCN. But if it's true, WTF...

top 6 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

That is simply absurd, if true

[–] xohshoo 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Not surprising actually, visas are hard, Eritrea is basically African North Korea, and Brexit doesn't help. Hell, Powless missed Worlds last year after his visa came through 20 minutes late, and that was US and Australia

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Sudan, DRC, Somalia, lots of countries vying for the title of African north Korea. I imagine travel is easier if you're Eritrean than North Korean (because of differences at country of origin rather than reception at destination).

I any case bini was injured so we aren't missing out as much. Pretty embarrassing for the UK as host not hosting one of the stars of the sport though.

[–] gxabbo 1 points 1 year ago

Still not confirmed, but Girmay withdrew: https://intermarche-circus-wanty.eu/news/biniam-girmay-worlds/

[–] not_again 1 points 1 year ago

Stupid. Love girmay..hope this gets worked out in time for him and his country men to compete.

[–] isazi 1 points 1 year ago

WTF