Key Points
- The Taliban government does not recognize the three Afghan female athletes representing Afghanistan at the Paris Olympics, supporting only the male athletes.
- The IOC invited a six-member Afghan team without consulting Taliban officials, relying on the exiled national Olympic committee.
- Afghan athletes will compete under the flag of the former Western-backed government, with female participation despite Taliban-imposed sports restrictions on women.
Taliban Government Disavows Afghan Female Athletes in Paris Olympics
Kabul – The Taliban government in Afghanistan has stated it does not recognize the three female athletes who will represent the country at the upcoming Paris Olympic Games. A spokesman for their sports department confirmed this stance.
IOC’s Invitation
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) invited a squad of six Afghan athletes, consisting of three women and three men, in consultation with Afghanistan’s largely exiled national Olympic committee.
“Only three athletes are representing Afghanistan,” said Atal Mashwani, spokesman for the Taliban’s sports directorate, referring solely to the male athletes. “Currently, in Afghanistan girls’ sports have been stopped. When girls’ sport isn’t practiced, how can they go on the national team?” he told AFP.
Training and Participation
Of the six athletes, only one male judo fighter is currently training within Afghanistan. The remaining athletes, including all three women, are based outside the country. The female athletes will compete in athletics and cycling, while the male athletes will feature in athletics, swimming, and judo.
Lack of Taliban Consultation
The IOC confirmed it did not consult Taliban officials regarding the team selection and did not invite them to the games. Mark Adams, an IOC spokesman, emphasized that Afghanistan’s national Olympic committee, including its president and secretary-general who live in exile, remain “its sole interlocutors for the preparation and participation of the Afghan team.”
Taliban’s Stance and Support
Despite the IOC’s position, Afghan committee CEO Dad Mohammad Payenda Akhtari, still residing in Afghanistan, stated his committee coordinated with Taliban authorities for the male athletes. Mashwani claimed the government supports these athletes with training and scholarships. “We only take the responsibility for three male athletes participating in the Olympics,” he reiterated to AFP.
Representation and Historical Context
The Afghan athletes will compete under the black, red, and green flag of the former Western-backed government that fell following the US troop withdrawal three years ago. Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban has imposed restrictions barring women from sports, secondary schools, and universities. The United Nations has labeled these actions as “gender apartheid.”
Previously, the IOC banned Afghanistan from the games in 1999 during the Taliban’s first rule when women were also barred from sports. Afghanistan was reinstated after the Taliban’s ousting post-9/11, but the Paris games mark the first summer Olympics since their return to power. The IOC approved the Afghan team to ensure representation from all 206 nations, even if athletes didn’t qualify otherwise.
