Afghanistan at the Olympics

Last updated
Afghanistan at the
Olympics
Flag of Afghanistan.svg
IOC code AFG
NOC National Olympic Committee of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Medals
Ranked 147th
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
2
Total
2
Summer appearances

Afghanistan has competed in 15 Summer Games. They have never appeared in any Winter Games. The country made its first appearance at the Berlin Games in 1936. It has sent a delegation to 14 of the 19 subsequent Summer Games since then. It is organised by the National Olympic Committee of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The Committee is currently in exile and presided by Hafizullah Wali Rahimi: the International Olympic Committee has not recognized the Taliban regime's Committee, headed by Nazar Mohammad Mutmaeen.

Contents

History

Afghanistan's field hockey team in 1956 Olympic games afghanistan 1956.jpg
Afghanistan's field hockey team in 1956

The country made its first appearance at the Berlin Games in 1936.

Afghanistan competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, sending a total of 31 competitors, which consisted of the men's field hockey and football teams. This is the highest number of athletes that Afghanistan has ever sent to a Summer Olympic Games.

Afghanistan's football tournament culminated in Afghanistan being defeated 6-0 against Luxembourg, and they failed to qualify to the first round of the tournament. At the men's field hockey tournament won one match, drew one match and lost one match, resulting in placing third of four competing teams, with 3 points. Therefore, Afghanistan did not proceed to the semi-finals, finishing third in their respective group.

In the following 1952 Games at Helsinki, Afghanistan did not participate. However, Afghanistan returned for the 1956 Games at Melbourne, sending a team of 12 for the men's field hockey tournament, with six of the competitors on the team having participated previously in 1948.

Afghanistan did not send a team, sending an official to the Barcelona Games in 1992, and sent only two representatives to the Atlanta Games in 1996: light-middleweight boxer Mohammad Jawid Aman was disqualified after he arrived too late for the mandatory weigh-in and draw, which left marathon runner Abdul Baser Wasiqi as the country's sole representative. Wasiqi pulled a hamstring before the race, but competed nonetheless, limping his way through the marathon and finishing last. [1]

The ANOC was suspended by the IOC in 1999, and Afghanistan were subsequently banned from the Sydney Games in 2000 for discrimination against women under the rule of the Taliban and prohibition of sports of any kind. The country was re-instated in 2002 following the fall of the Taliban, [2] and sent five representatives to the Athens Games in 2004.

Among them were two women, Robina Muqim Yaar and Friba Razayee, the first ever women to compete for Afghanistan at the Olympics. [3]

Afghanistan sent a team of four competitors, [4] including three men and one woman, Mehboba Ahdyar, [5] to the 2008 Beijing Games. Ahdyar received death threats due to her intended participation in the Games. [4]

Afghanistan won their first summer Olympic medal during the 2008 Beijing Games, with Rohullah Nikpai winning a bronze in men's Taekwondo 58 kg, and their second at the 2012 Games with another bronze for Nikpai in the men's 68kg taekwondo event. [6]

Afghanistan returned for a fourth consecutive games, at Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Rohullah Nikpai, who had earned a medal at the two previous games in taekwando did not return. Instead, three athletes were sent, competing in two sports - Athletics and Judo. None of the athletes managed to progress and qualify further in their events. Despite finishing last in the women's 100 metres, Kamia Yousufi became Afghanistan's national record holder with 14.02 seconds, which was also at her Olympic debut. [7] She also ran her preliminary heat in a full-body kit and hijab. [8]

In April 2021, the ANOC announced that Fahim Anwari will become the first swimmer to represent Afghanistan at the Olympics. [9] [10] [11] Afghanistan received an invitation from the Tripartite Commission to send a men's rifle shooter, Mahdi Yovari, marking the nation's Olympic debut in the sport. [12]

Afghanistan's participation status for the 2024 Summer Olympics was unclear amid the political turmoil and the Taliban's return to power in August 2021. [13] In June 2024, it was confirmed that Afghanistan will be participating with 3 male and 3 female athletes. However the Taliban have stated that they will not recognise the three participating females (all of whom currently live in exile), and the IOC did not admit any Taliban officials. All six athletes competed under the flag and anthem of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. [14]

Medal tables

Medals by Summer Games

GamesAthletesGoldSilverBronzeTotal Rank
1936 Berlin 19 0000
1948 London 31 0000
1952 Helsinki did not participate
1956 Melbourne 12 0000
1960 Rome 18 0000
1964 Tokyo 8 0000
1968 Mexico City 5 0000
1972 Munich 8 0000
1976 Montreal did not participate
1980 Moscow 11 0000
1984 Los Angeles Boycotted
1988 Seoul 5 0000
1992 Barcelona did not participate
1996 Atlanta 2 0000
2000 Sydney banned from participating
2004 Athens 5 0000
2008 Beijing 4 0011 82
2012 London 6 0011 79
2016 Rio de Janeiro 3 0000
2020 Tokyo 5 0000
2024 Paris 6 0000
2028 Los Angeles
2032 Brisbane
Total0022 148

Medals by summer sport

SportGoldSilverBronzeTotal
Taekwondo pictogram.svg  Taekwondo 0022
Totals (1 entries)0022

Note: Afghanistan was banned from the Olympics in 2000 for the Taliban regime's discrimination against women at the time.

List of medalists

MedalNameGamesSportEvent
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Rohullah Nikpai 2008 Beijing Taekwondo pictogram.svg Taekwondo Men's 58 kg
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze 2012 London Taekwondo pictogram.svg Taekwondo Men's 68 kg

See also

Related Research Articles

Friba Rezayee, is a Hazara judoka, who is perhaps best known as one of the first two women athletes from Afghanistan to compete in the Summer Olympics. The Taliban controlling most of Afghanistan had caused the country to be banned from the Olympics in 1999 due to discrimination against women under Taliban rule as well as its prohibition of sports of any kind, and thus missed out on the Sydney Olympics of the year 2000. In June 2003, the IOC lifted the suspension imposed on Afghanistan during the 115th IOC Session in Prague, and the country sent a delegation of five competitors to the Athens Games in 2004. Rezayee and Robina Muqimyar were two women contingents in the delegation, becoming the first ever women to compete for Afghanistan at the Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maldives at the 2008 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

The Maldives competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics, which were held in Beijing, China from August 8 to August 24, 2008. The country's participation at the Beijing Olympics marked its seventh appearance in the Summer Olympics since its debut at the 1988 Summer Olympics. The delegation included four athletes, two in athletics, and two in swimming who participated in four distinct events. Its four athletes did not advance past the first round in each of their events. Aminath Rouya Hussain carried the Maldivian flag during the parade of nations of the opening ceremony with sprinter Ali Shareef being the flagbearer for the closing ceremony. The country failed to win an Olympic medal at these Games and has yet to win their first medal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afghanistan at the 2008 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Afghanistan sent a team to compete at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The team consisted of three men and one woman. Initially, Mehboba Ahdyar prepared to run the 800 metres and 1500 metres, but left her training camp on June 4 to seek political asylum in Norway. The country was represented by two competitors in athletics, and two in taekwondo. Afghanistan won its first ever Olympic medal at these games, with Rohullah Nikpai taking bronze in men's 58 kg taekwondo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afghanistan at the Paralympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Afghanistan first competed at the Paralympic Games during the 1996 Summer Paralympics in Atlanta, where it was represented by cyclists Gul Afzal and Zabet Khan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afghanistan at the Asian Games</span> Sporting event delegation

Afghanistan is a member of the Central Asian Zone of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), and has participated in the Asian Games since their inception in 1951. The National Olympic Committee of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, established in 1935 and recognised by the International Olympic Committee in 1936, is the National Olympic Committee for Afghanistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taekwondo at the 2012 Summer Olympics</span> Taekwondo competition

Taekwondo competitions at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London was held from 8 August to 11 August at the ExCeL London. Competition was held in eight weight categories; four for men, and four for women.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afghanistan at the 2002 Asian Games</span> Sporting event delegation

Afghanistan participated in the 2002 Asian Games held in Busan, South Korea, from September 29 to October 14, 2002. This marked Afghanistan's return to international sporting events after the fall of the Taliban regime. The Afghan delegation consisted of 12 officials and 44 competitors participating in seven different sports. The Afghanistan national football team played its first international match since the 1984 AFC Asian Cup qualification phase. An English teacher from Kabul, Roia Zamani, won a bronze medal in the 72 kg middleweight class of taekwondo without winning a single match. Zamani was the only medalist for the Afghan side and the first Afghan medalist in 20 years. None of the remaining athletes advanced past the qualifying stages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afghanistan at the 2012 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Afghanistan competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012. Six Afghan athletes were selected for the Games, competing in four different sporting events. Rohullah Nikpai, who won Afghanistan's first ever Olympic medal at the 2008 Games, managed to repeat his bronze medal in the men's 68 kg taekwondo event for the second time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Serbia at the 2016 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Serbia competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. It was the nation's fourth appearance at the Summer Olympics as an independent country. The Olympic Committee of Serbia confirmed a roster of 103 athletes, 58 men and 45 women, to compete across 14 sports at the Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyprus at the 2016 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Cyprus competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. This was the nation's tenth consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Myanmar at the 2016 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Myanmar competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. This was the nation's sixteenth appearance at the Olympics, although it had previous competed in most editions under the name Burma. Myanmar did not attend the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal for political reasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paraguay at the 2016 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Paraguay competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. Since the nation's official debut in 1968, Paraguayan athletes had appeared in every edition of the Summer Olympic Games, but did not attend the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow because of the nation's partial support for the US-led boycott.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afghanistan at the 2016 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Afghanistan competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. The country's participation at Rio de Janeiro marked its fourth consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympics and fourteenth in total. Afghanistan had officially made its debut in 1936 and missed five editions since then. Rohullah Nikpai, who had previously won a medal for Afghanistan in taekwondo, did not participate. Afghanistan failed to earn a single Olympic medal in Rio for the first time since 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Austria at the 2020 Summer Olympics</span> Austria at the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo

Austria competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Originally scheduled to take place from 24 July to 9 August 2020, the Olympic Games were postponed to 23 July to 8 August 2021, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the nation's twenty-eighth appearance at the Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albania at the 2020 Summer Olympics</span> Albania at the games of the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo

Albania (ALB) competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, represented by the Albanian National Olympic Committee (KOKSH). Originally scheduled to take place from 24 July to 9 August 2020, the Games were postponed to 23 July to 8 August 2021, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kosovo at the 2020 Summer Olympics</span> Kosovo at the games of the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo

Kosovo (KOS) competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, represented by the Olympic Committee of Kosovo (KOK/OKK). The nation had previously participated in the Summer Olympic Games on one occasion in 2016. A total of 11 athletes, five men and six women, were selected by the national committee to compete in six sports. Initially scheduled to take place during the summer of 2020, the games were postponed to 23 July to 8 August 2021 in relation to the pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afghanistan at the 2020 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Afghanistan competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Originally scheduled to take place from 24 July to 9 August 2020, the Games were postponed to 23 July to 8 August 2021, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fahim Anwari is an Afghan swimmer with two Afghan national records. He is a member of Afghanistan's national swimming team. During the COVID-19 pandemic in Afghanistan, Anwari trained at Qargha Lake. In April 2021, Afghanistan National Olympic Committee announced that Anwari will become the first swimmer to represent Afghanistan at the Olympics. Anwari received financial support from the IOC for his preparations for the Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zakia Khudadadi</span> Afghan taekwondo practitioner

Zakia Khudadadi also spelt as Zakia Khodadadi is an Afghan parataekwondo practitioner. She is the first Afghan female taekwondo practitioner. She rose to prominence after winning the African International Parataekwondo Championship in 2016 at the age of 18. She represented Afghanistan at the 2020 Summer Paralympics. She was initially denied the opportunity to compete at her first Paralympics due to the Taliban takeover but was later allowed by the International Paralympic Committee to compete in the event after being safely evacuated from Afghanistan. She was able to compete and became the first Afghan female Paralympic competitor to compete at the Paralympics in 17 years since Mareena Karim's participation at the 2004 Summer Paralympics. She also officially became the first Afghan female sportsperson to participate in an international sporting event after the Taliban takeover.

References

  1. "Taleban hope to get ban revoked", Reuters, August 17, 2000
  2. "A Run to the Future". Archived from the original on 2008-03-22. Retrieved 2024-08-16.
  3. "Afghan women's Olympic dream", BBC, June 22, 2004
  4. 1 2 "Afghan Athletes Train for Beijing Olympic " Archived 2008-05-13 at the Wayback Machine , Afghan embassy to the United States, April 29, 2008
  5. "Afghan Woman Runs Toward Olympics Despite Jeers, Potential Danger" Archived 2012-10-20 at the Wayback Machine , Associated Press, March 16, 2008
  6. Afghanistan at the Olympics, The Telegraph
  7. "Rio Olympics 2016: Kariman Abuljadayel makes Saudi history in 100m". BBC. 13 August 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  8. Faizi, Benafsha. "Candidate Athletes – Olympic New Site". Archived from the original on 2021-11-17. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  9. "Afghan swimmer Fahim Anwari sets new national record". Ariana News. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  10. "OCA » Afghanistan NOC celebrates two national records for swimmer Anwari". ocasia.org. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  11. "Quota Places by Nation and Number". www.issf-sports.org/. ISSF. 31 May 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  12. "Bach praises response of Olympic community to Afghanistan crisis with more than 100 assisted in leaving nation". Reuters .
  13. "Athletics, Olympics 2024: Kimia Yousofi representing the dreams of Afghan women in Paris". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2024-07-14.