The athlete from Belarus, who has sought refuge in the Polish embassy in Tokyo, is due to leave for Poland on Wednesday, according to a group of supporters. She had declined her team’s order to fly home from the Olympics. Sprinter Kristina Timanowskaja was initially granted a humanitarian visa by the Polish government. She had previously refused to take a flight home because, according to her own account, Belarus officials took her to the airport against her will for criticizing her team’s coaching staff. The athlete arrived at the Polish embassy in Tokyo on Monday, and there was a police presence on Tuesday morning with great media interest. A source at the Sports Solidarity Foundation from Belarus, which supports athletes who have been imprisoned or marginalized for their political views, said Timanovskaya plans to apply for asylum in Germany or Austria.
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