Romanian Reportedly Defects After Olympics

A member of the Romanian Olympic team, seeking political asylum in Canada, defected after the Winter Games, immigration officials said Tuesday.

Calgary radio stations reported that the man was the coach of the Romanian bobsled team, but police and immigration officials said they refused to identify the defector because they did not want to jeopardize his safety or his family’s safety.

The police report said the defector, described only as a male, approached a police officer Monday night at the athletes’ village at the University of Calgary and requested political asylum.

In Ottawa, the Canadian government said a review committee could hear the case quickly.