KABUL: Afghanistan’s Taliban government does not recognise the three female athletes who will represent the country at the Paris Olympic Games this month, a spokesman for their sports department said.

The IOC has invited a squad of six Afghan athletes — three women and three men — in consultation with Afghanistan’s largely exiled national Olympic committee.

“Only three athletes are representing Afghanistan,” said Atal Mashwani, the spokesman of the Taliban government’s sports directorate, referring to the male competitors. “Currently, in Afghanistan girls’ sports have been stopped. When girls’ sport isn’t practiced, how can they go on the national team?” he said.

All three of the women and two of the male athletes are living outside Afghanistan. The only one training in the country is a judo fighter, whilst his squad mates will feature in athletics and swimming.

The women will compete in athletics and cycling. The IOC said it had not consulted Taliban officials about the team and they were not invited to the games.

Spokesman Mark Adams last month confirmed Afghanistan’s national Olympic committee — including the president and secretary-general who are both living in exile — remain “its sole interlocutors for the preparation and participation of the Afghan team”.

But Afghan committee CEO Dad Mohammad Payenda Akhtari, who is still in the country, said whilst female athletes were organised abroad, his committee coordinated with Taliban authorities over the male ones.

Mashwani claimed the government was supporting them with training and scholarships.

“We only take the responsibility for three male athletes participating in the Olympics,” he told AFP.

The participants will compete under the black, red and green flag of the old Western-backed government which crumbled after the withdrawal of US troops three years ago.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2024