Four More Nations Drop Out of Games

The island nations of Cyprus, Sri Lanka, Seychelles and Grenada announced Monday that they will join 23 other countries in boycotting the Commonwealth Games to protest Britain’s opposition to economic sanctions against South Africa.

The announcements came a day after India, leader of the nonaligned movement, said it will not send athletes to the international sports event, which is held every four years for members of the grouping of Britain and its former colonies. The games begin Thursday in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Lesotho, a black kingdom surrounded by South Africa, said its athletes will not attend the sporting event because they are not up to standard, making it the 28th state to withdraw. Fifty-eight teams originally registered.