Six of 14 Sierra Leonean athletes who went missing from the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne have been found in a Sydney beachside house.

Nineteen athletes remain missing after the Games ended on Sunday, with local media reporting that nine athletes from Cameroon went missing from the athletes' village overnight.

The immigration official told Reuters the Sierra Leonean athletes, three men and three women, had been granted bridging visas to allow them to stay in the country pending a formal visa application.

Local media said police had received a tip-off and found the athletes at picturesque Harbord Beach, one of Sydney's wealthy northern seaside suburbs.

The Games visas given to athletes do not expire for another month, but Australia has revoked the special visas of the 14 athletes, who make up two-thirds of their country's 21-member team, making them illegal immigrants.

There were similar disappearances at the previous Games in Manchester, England, in 2002.

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