In one of the most heartbreaking moments seen in recent sports history, the Afghanistan flag was paraded around the Paralympics opening ceremony despite none of their athletes making it to the games.
A volunteer stepped in to honour the country in ‘solidarity’ as the humanitarian crisis continues to unfold in Afghanistan, Business Insider reported.
AFP
While there were just two athletes who were set to compete — taekwondo competitor Zakia Khudadadi and discus thrower Hossain Rasouli — neither were able to join their fellow athletes in Tokyo.
Khudadadi, 23, was to be the first woman ever to represent Afghanistan at the Paralympics and said in a video last week that she was “imprisoned inside the house” in the nation’s capital Kabul.
Meanwhile,
Hossain Rasouli, who lost his left arm in a mine explosion, would have been making his Paralympic debut in Tokyo.
He told the Paralympics website that it was “a dream” to be participating in the Tokyo Games and that he wanted to win a medal for his country.
AFP
But the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) confirmed on Monday that with the Taliban takeover, the two athletes would no longer be able to travel to Japan.
“Regrettably NPC (National Paralympic Committee) Afghanistan will no longer participate in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games,” IPC spokesman Craig Spence said.
“Due to the serious ongoing situation in the country, all airports are closed and there is no way for them to travel to Tokyo.”
But while Afghanistan was not represented by its athletes, its flag was flown during the athlete parade with a Tokyo volunteer waving the flag.
AFP
The president of the International Paralympic Committee Andrew Parsons revealed the touching tribute on Monday.
“We will include the Afghanistan flag in the ceremony in a sign of solidarity. It is important to highlight that as it is a message of solidarity and peace that we send to the world,” Parsons said.
“We would like to have them here, unfortunately it is not possible, but they will be here in spirit,” he added.
The Afghan flag itself is a symbol of the ongoing struggle between Afghans and the Taliban. The Taliban’s white and black colored flags have been seen raised across the country while many in Afghanistan and social media have used their tricolored flag as a sign of defiance.
About 4,400 athletes are gearing up to compete in Japan, at this year’s Paralympics.