Sydney: Kimia Yousofi says she will represent the “stolen dreams and aspirations” of all Afghan women after she was unveiled as one of the six-member national team for the Paris Olympics on Tuesday.
The 100m runner was Afghanistan’s flag bearer at the Tokyo Games three years ago, but fled her home country to neighboring Iran in August 2021 to escape persecution after the return of the Taliban.
“I represent the stolen dreams and desires of these women. Those who do not have the power to make decisions as free human beings.”
“They don’t even have permission to enter the park.
“I am deeply grateful to everyone who stood by me on this journey and made it possible,” she added.
They were selected by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in consultation with the largely exiled National Olympic Committee of Afghanistan.
All but the judists are based outside of Afghanistan and the team competes under the black, red and green flag and anthem of the Western-backed former republic that was ousted by the Taliban.
The IOC has refused to accredit any Taliban officials, who said on Monday that they do not recognize Yousofi or her two colleagues.
“Only three athletes represent Afghanistan,” said Atal Mashwani, a spokesman for the Taliban government’s sports directorate, referring to the male competitors.
“Currently, girls’ sports are stopped in Afghanistan. If girls’ sports are not practiced, how can they go to the national team?” he told AFP.
The Taliban have used their austere interpretation of Islam to undermine the rights of women, who are de facto banned from sports and have limited access to public spaces, education and some jobs.
The United Nations called the restrictions “gender apartheid”.
Afghanistan was revived by the Olympic Movement after the Taliban were ousted by the US-led invasion after 9/11. Paris is hosting the first Summer Olympics since the Taliban regained control.
This time, the IOC took a different approach – it approved the Afghan team as part of a system that ensures representation of all 206 countries in cases where athletes would otherwise not qualify.
He praised Yousofi, who will be in her third Olympics, as an inspiration to her training partners.
“But when you consider everything else she had to juggle – the training, the new language, getting her family here, all those things, she was amazing.” Her efforts certainly inspired other team members. Now he finds himself back on the world stage in Paris.”
