The Afghanistan team’s status for next year’s Paris Olympics was put in question on Wednesday by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over growing frustration with the Taliban blocking access to sports for women and girls.
The IOC said it “continues to be extremely concerned” about the sports situation in Afghanistan despite its repeated calls for action.
Noting its “right to take any further measures,” the IOC cautioned that “specific details for the participation of the Afghan [national Olympic committee, NOC] delegation and team” for the Paris Games have not yet been decided.
Photo: Reuters
The IOC could suspend Afghanistan’s Olympic body for government interference in the independent management of sports, while supporting the country’s athletes to compete in Paris as an independent team under the Olympic flag and anthem.
The issue was discussed on Wednesday at an IOC executive board meeting that also took updates on problems with Olympic officials in India, Indonesia, Iran and Guatemala.
A call between Olympic officials and Afghanistan’s recently appointed director of physical education and sports had led to some written guarantees, IOC director for NOC relations James McLeod said in an online briefing.
Still, the IOC said allowing some access to sports for girls at elementary schools was “a first step,” but reiterated that “this remains insufficient.”
Women and girls who once played sports in January told reporters that they had been intimidated by the Taliban with visits and telephone calls warning them not to engage in their sports.
The Afghanistan issue is next scheduled to be discussed at an IOC board meeting in October.
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