Sign up now for the ticketing draw and enjoy exclusive access when tickets go live on 6 February 2025. Draw closes in January.

Don’t miss Milano Cortina 2026

The Afghanistan Paralympic Committee withdrew its athletes from the Games due to flights being cancelled out of the nation's capital, Kabul.

Afghanistan

Afghanistan's athletes may not have been able to attend the Paralympics, but they were 'here in spirit' according to IPC President Andrew Parsons.

Afghanistan flag represented at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics Opening Ceremony

The Tokyo Olympic Stadium may not have been full, but there was no lack of emotion as the Afghanistan flag was carried into the Opening Ceremony of the [Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games](https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/paralympics/) on Tuesday (24 August 2021).

Two athletes had been due to compete for Afghanistan at the Paralympics, before their National Paralympic Committee (NPC) withdrew from the Games, due to flights being cancelled out of the capital, Kabul.

But it was decided that the flag would be represented in Japan as 'an act of solidarity and peace' according to International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Andrew Parsons earlier in the week.

"We will include the Afghanistan flag in the Ceremony in a sign of solidarity," said Parsons.

"It is important to highlight that as it is a message of solidarity and peace that we send to the world.

"We would like to have them here, unfortunately it is not possible, but they will be here in spirit."

The flag was carried into the Opening Ceremony by a Tokyo 2020 volunteer.

Afghanistan flag represented at Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony in 'act of solidarity and peace' 

TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 24: A volunteer holds the flag of Afghanistan in the parade of athletes during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 24, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

GettyImages-1336087875

AF,AX,AL,DZ,AS,AD,AO,AI,AQ,AG,AR,AM,AW,AU,AT,AZ,BS,BH,BD,BB,BY,BE,BZ,BJ,BM,BT,BO,BQ,BA,BW,BV,BR,IO,UM,VG,VI,BN,BG,BF,BI,KH,CM,CA,CV,KY,CF,TD,CL,CN,CX,CC,CO,KM,CG,CD,CK,CR,HR,CU,CW,CY,CZ,DK,DJ,DM,DO,EC,EG,SV,GQ,ER,EE,ET,FK,FO,FJ,FI,FR,GF,PF,TF,GA,GM,GE,DE,GH,GI,GR,GL,GD,GP,GU,GT,GG,GN,GW,GY,HT,HM,VA,HN,HK,HU,IS,IN,ID,CI,IR,IQ,IE,IM,IL,IT,JM,JP,JE,JO,KZ,KE,KI,KW,KG,LA,LV,LB,LS,LR,LY,LI,LT,LU,MO,MK,MG,MW,MY,MV,ML,MT,MH,MQ,MR,MU,YT,MX,FM,MD,MC,MN,ME,MS,MA,MZ,MM,NA,NR,NP,NL,NC,NZ,NI,NE,NG,NU,NF,KP,MP,NO,OM,PK,PW,PS,PA,PG,PY,PE,PH,PN,PL,PT,PR,QA,RE,RO,RU,RW,BL,SH,KN,LC,MF,PM,VC,WS,SM,ST,SA,SN,RS,SC,SL,SG,SX,SK,SI,SB,SO,ZA,GS,KR,SS,ES,LK,SD,SR,SJ,SZ,SE,CH,SY,TW,TJ,TZ,TH,TL,TG,TK,TO,TT,TN,TR,TM,TC,TV,UG,UA,AE,GB,US,UY,UZ,VU,VE,VN,WF,EH,YE,ZM,ZW,XK

Afghanistan flag represented at Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony in 'act of solidarity and peace'

More from