| Comment | Pretty niche, but back in 2008 a group of Eritrean elite runners came to Edinburgh to represent their country at the world cross country championships; they didn't perform brilliantly against the Kenyans, Ethiopians, etc and so their authorities told them they'd be punished when they got home (Eritrea is only slightly better than NK when it comes to human rights, and apparently the punishment on offer was conscription)
So 6 of them decided fuck that, stayed in Scotland and claimed asylum - since they knew nobody and nothing but the clothes they were wearing, the only contact they had was a guy from Shettleston Harriers who'd asked them for autographs at the championships, so they got in touch with him and all turned up at club training one day, and the club helped them get accomodation, permanent residency, etc etc; they all now represent Scotland sometimes in National/European championships and have had a massive impact on the Scottish club running scene |
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