The Afghanistan flag will be displayed in the opening ceremony of the Paralympics even though the country’s athletes were not able to get to Tokyo to compete.
Andrew Parsons, president of the International Paralympic Committee, said it will be done as a “sign of solidarity”.
He said a representative of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees will carry the flag in the National Stadium during the opening ceremony on Tuesday.
楽しみ！We are so excited! #Paralympics https://t.co/UCRtEmg4xY
— Paralympic Games (@Paralympics) August 23, 2021
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It is the same stadium where the opening ceremony of the Olympics took place on July 23.
The two Paralympic athletes from Afghanistan – para-taekwondo athlete Zakia Khudadadi and discus thrower Hossain Rasouli – were unable to reach Tokyo after the Taliban took control of the country more than a week ago.
Mr Parsons said 162 delegations will be represented in Tokyo, including refugee athletes.
Monday Motivation: A letter from @AlphonsoDavies to the #RefugeeParalympicTeam 💙 https://t.co/M0su1wHrV1
— UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency (@Refugees) August 23, 2021
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The IPC has said about 4,400 athletes will compete in the Paralympics. The exact number is to be released on Tuesday.
The Paralympics, due to close on September 5, faces a surge in Covid-19 cases around Tokyo.
Organisers and the IPC say there is no connection between the Olympics or Paralympics taking place in the Japanese capital and rising cases among the general population.
