Two Xiomeran athletes have chosen to defect to Eiria during the IDU Olympics, shocking the Olympic community and sparking an angry response from the Xiomeran government.
Metotoa, a player on the Xiomeran mens’ basketball team, and Cihitlina, a fencer on the Xiomeran womens’ fencing team, announced their intention to defect to a DTNS reporter. They immediately sought asylum from Eirian authorities afterwards, citing their fear of retaliation from the Xiomeran government if they returned to their delegation.
Eirian Minister of Diplomacy Alice Lancaster told the Eirian National News that the Xiomeran athletes’ asylum application would be considered in the same fashion as any other application, and that they would be given temporary asylum while their applications are being considered.
Xiomeran Prime Minister Toquihu, who is in New Riga attending the Olympics, accused the Eirian government of “brainwashing” or tricking the Xiomeran athletes to defect, claiming that no Xiomeran athlete would voluntarily choose to abandon their country. He further said that Xiomeran athletes would henceforth be sent home immediately after completing their competitions, and that Xiomera would not be competing in the closing ceremonies of the Games as a result. The Eirian government, for its part, dismissed the Xiomeran claims of brainwashing as “preposterous, and more suited for conspiracy theorists than elected officials”. Minister Lancaster indicated that the Eirian government would cooperate fully with any potential International Olympic Committee investigation into the defections.
Xiomera’s ruler, Empress Calhualyana, has yet to comment directly on the defections. However, a recent televised appearance with Xiomeran medal winners at the Palace of Flowers, in which she praised them as “true Xiomerans”, has been taken as an indirect comment on the situation.
Current medal results in the IDU Olympics (as of 6/28/2021)
Laeral: 11 Gold | 7 Silver | 7 Bronze | 25 Medals | 54 Points
Xiomera: 8 Gold | 8 Silver | 14 Bronze | 30 Medals | 54 Points
Gardavasque: 12 Gold | 6 Silver | 4 Bronze | 22 Medals | 52 Points
Eiria: 9 Gold | 8 Silver | 8 Bronze | 25 Medals | 51 Points
High Fells: 10 Gold | 7 Silver | 3 Bronze | 20 Medals | 47 Points
Lauchenoiria: 9 Gold | 5 Silver | 9 Bronze | 21 Medals | 46 Points
Astoria: 4 Gold | 9 Silver | 9 Bronze | 22 Medals | 39 Points
LOM: 3 Gold | 8 Silver | 8 Bronze | 19 Medals | 32 Points
Zongongia: 3 Gold | 6 Silver | 2 Bronze | 11 Medals | 23 Points
Kerlile: 3 Gold | 4 Silver | 3 Bronze | 10 Medals | 20 Points
Huenya 4 Gold | 2 Silver | 3 Bronze | 9 Medals | 19 Points
Auria: 3 Gold | 3 Silver | 2 Bronze | 8 Medals | 17 Points
Slokais: 3 Gold | 1 Silver | 3 Bronze | 7 Medals | 14 Points
Serriel: 4 Silver | 4 Bronze | 8 Medals | 12 Points
Milintica: 4 Silver | 2 Bronze | 6 Medals | 10 Points
Mallacaland: 1 Bronze | 1 Medal | 1 Point
