The Afghanistan team’s status for next year’s Paris Olympics was put in question on Wednesday by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over growing frustration with the Taliban blocking access to sports for women and girls.
The IOC said it “continues to be extremely concerned” about the sports situation in Afghanistan despite its repeated calls for action.
Noting its “right to take any further measures,” the IOC cautioned that “specific details for the participation of the Afghan [national Olympic committee, NOC] delegation and team” for the Paris Games have not yet been decided.
Photo: Reuters
The IOC could suspend Afghanistan’s Olympic body for government interference in the independent management of sports, while supporting the country’s athletes to compete in Paris as an independent team under the Olympic flag and anthem.
The issue was discussed on Wednesday at an IOC executive board meeting that also took updates on problems with Olympic officials in India, Indonesia, Iran and Guatemala.
A call between Olympic officials and Afghanistan’s recently appointed director of physical education and sports had led to some written guarantees, IOC director for NOC relations James McLeod said in an online briefing.
Still, the IOC said allowing some access to sports for girls at elementary schools was “a first step,” but reiterated that “this remains insufficient.”
Women and girls who once played sports in January told reporters that they had been intimidated by the Taliban with visits and telephone calls warning them not to engage in their sports.
The Afghanistan issue is next scheduled to be discussed at an IOC board meeting in October.
Manchester United on Tuesday confirmed Michael Carrick as interim manager until the end of the season, tasking him with leading the Red Devils back into the UEFA Champions League. “Having the responsibility to lead Manchester United is an honor,” said Carrick, 44, who won 12 major trophies in his 12-year playing career at United. The former midfielder previously had an unbeaten three-game stint as caretaker boss at Old Trafford in 2021. Carrick then took on his first permanent managerial role at second-tier Middlesbrough in October 2022 and was sacked in June last year after the club finished 10th in the
MARRED FINAL: As most of Senegalese players walked off the pitch after a controversial decision, some supporters threw objects and attempted to get onto the pitch Senegal on Sunday won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as Pape Gueye’s extra-time winner sunk hosts Morocco 1-0 after a chaotic final that saw the eventual champions storm off the pitch late in the game. Brahim Diaz could have won the trophy for Morocco with a controversial spot-kick in the 24th minute of added time at the end of normal time as ugly scenes broke out in the stands. However, Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy easily saved the weak attempted “Panenka” chip by the Real Madrid winger, who was clearly distracted by the long delay that followed the penalty award.
James Harden on Friday scored 31 points and came up big in overtime to help the Los Angeles Clippers erase a double-digit deficit on the way to a 121-117 NBA victory over the Toronto Raptors. Harden scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Clippers pushed their wining steak to five games despite the absence of star Kawhi Leonard with a sprained right ankle. The Clippers trailed by 11 entering the fourth quarter, but Harden drilled a pair of free-throws with 1:24 left in regulation to tie it and after misses from both teams, they went to
Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg on Wednesday was ruled out for the second half of their 118-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets after the No. 1 pick sprained his left ankle in the first half. Flagg was called for a foul while defending against Peyton Watson and turned the ankle as he fell to the floor with 6 minutes, 1 second left in the second quarter. Flagg limped to the bench and continued to the locker room, but returned for the final 2 minutes, 35 seconds before the break. The 19-year-old did not come out for the second half before the announcement that
RSS