Iranian Soccer Stars' Asylum Journey

0:00I'm Cory, and this is your Pulse of the City, sending news today. Seven Iranian women from the National Soccer Team sought asylum in Australia during the Asian Cup after refusing to sing their country's anthem. They feared for their safety back home, where they were called traitors. Now, one player has changed her mind and plans to return to Iran amid its tensions with Israel and the United States. This is not the first time athletes have used big events to seek protection. From Olympics to World Cups, competitors from oppressive regimes have stayed behind, hoping for freedom or safety. Many have succeeded, like Belarusian sprinter, Christina Kimano Skaya, who refused to leave Tokyo in 2021 and settled in Poland. Tynastar Martina Navratilova defected from Czechoslovakia in 1975 and became a U.S. citizen. Hungarian athletes also fled after the 1956 Melbourne Games, following their uprising against Soviet control, but outcomes vary. A Soviet diver from the 1976

1:01Montreal Olympics went home just weeks after announcing he'd stay. At the 2012 London Games, 20 athletes from African nations vanished seeking asylum, though many faced rejection or uncertainty. These stories highlight the risks athletes take, balancing dreams of safety against family ties or second thoughts. Officials often urge them not to game the system, as Australia did with over 200 visa seekers from the 2018 Commonwealth Games. The Daily News Now is made possible with support from our sponsor. Your bedtime ritual just got better. Built in sound, built in comfort, S-O-L-L-I-SOLIPILLO.COM.