Sri Lanka handball team vanishes

[MaineDem]

German authorities say they are puzzled by the disappearance of the entire national handball team from Sri Lanka.

German Sports Exchange Programme organiser, Dietmer Doering, said: "We initially thought the team had got lost in nearby woods while jogging."

But he said a note had been found saying the 23-strong team had gone to France. "We now know they crossed into Italy," Mr Doering said.

...

Handball is a sport very rarely played in Sri Lanka and the formation of a national team was a mystery, according to the ministry spokesman.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3658966.stm

No national team? This looks like a well-planned escape. Almost brilliant! :)

[mmonk]

1. What ingenuity

[Kellanved]

2. sorta like the Afghan national team

It is really a well done trick; it certainly took a lot of work. The team has been around for at least three years and has played international matches in that time.

What disturbs me about it, is that the story will be used by anti-immigration politicians (never mind that Bavaria issued the Visa- RWer Stoiber is PM there). Also it will make it more difficult to organize amateur-level international events in the future.

And the families of the players had to deposit €4700 each.

[Emboldened Chimp]

3. Sri Lanka has a handball team?

Who knew? :shrug:

[MaineDem]

4. Sri Lanka didn't even know.

Clever buggers.

[Roland99]

5. BBC News reported

the men have probably dispersed in Germany looking for jobs. They had visas that expired on Oct. 7 so the German authorities have no reason to search for them until then.

[delete_bush]

6. Nov 3, 2004

Bush administration team vanishes