<p>It was a moment of joy when Hossain Rasouli, an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tokyo-paralympics-ipc-president-says-welcoming-afghanistan-athletes-best-moment-of-games-409404">athlete from Afghanistan</a>, appeared on track at the ongoing Tokyo Paralympic Games 2020 and&nbsp;pointed towards the Afghanistan Paralympic Committee logo on his white vest on Tuesday (August 31).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rasouli was competing in the men's T47 long jump final and his name was at 13th place on the start list. Although, he finished last but definitely spread a message of hope on one of the most decorated global platforms.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rasouli, whose left hand was amputated after a mine explosion, finally made the much-awaited appearance of Afghanistan's appearance at the Tokyo Paralympic&nbsp;Games.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shahid-afridi-makes-glaring-remark-says-taliban-outfit-have-entered-afghanistan-with-positive-mindset-409575">Shahid Afridi makes glaring remark, says Taliban outfit have entered Afghanistan with 'positive mindset'</a></strong></p>

<p>As he was too late to compete in his favoured T47 100m event, he entered the long jump final and recorded jumps of 4.37, 4.21 and 4.46. It did not win him a medal, but the attempts were long enough to cross physical, mental and political hurdles.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Another long jumper Roderick Townsend said he didn't feel rivalry but "joy" as he said Rasouli's participation was symbolic and this is what &nbsp;Paralympic Games "stands for".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rasouli is one of the two Paralympians who were evacuated from Afghanistan, arriving in Tokyo with team-mate Zakia Khudadadi on Saturday (August 29), after catching a secret flight from Paris one week after being evacuated from Kabul.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="es">El velocista afgano Hossain Rasouli salta en los Paralímpicos de Tokio<a href="https://t.co/AVPgRNDID9">https://t.co/AVPgRNDID9</a> <a href="https://t.co/Xg34p39QJD">pic.twitter.com/Xg34p39QJD</a></p>
— Meta de Pulso (@meta_pulso) <a href="https://twitter.com/meta_pulso/status/1432561950525898755?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The best 13th place ever: Afghanistan Paralympian, Hossain Rasouli, a 100 metre runner who missed his event because he was fleeing the Taliban in Kabul, competes in the long jump instead and sets a PB💪 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tokyo2020?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tokyo2020</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paralympics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paralympics</a> <a href="https://t.co/cdC0RVmK5l">pic.twitter.com/cdC0RVmK5l</a></p>
— Tracey Holmes (@TraceyLeeHolmes) <a href="https://twitter.com/TraceyLeeHolmes/status/1432532532138971138?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tokyo-paralympics-ipc-says-afghan-athletes-well-being-is-top-priority-no-media-access-during-games-409155">Rasouli</a> left the stadium without speaking to reporters officials have said&nbsp;Afghan Paralympians will not be speaking to the media during the Paralympic Games. &nbsp;</p>

<p>A couple of days ago, Andrew Parsons, the president of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said he was able to see the Afghan athletes in person after they arrived, and promised that the IPC would "provide everything in our capacity" to ensure "the safest" and "calmest" environment for them to focus on their competitions.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-completes-military-withdrawal-from-afghanistan-409541">US completes military withdrawal from Afghanistan</a></strong></p>

<p><strong>Watch:</strong></p>

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<p>The athletes were due to arrive in Tokyo on August 17 but they could not travel to Japan after the Taliban took control over the country, routing government forces.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They had missed the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games on Tuesday (August 24), however, their country's flag was carried during the event, spreading a "message of solidarity and peace".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Khudadadi will make her first appearance in the women's taekwondo K44 -49kg category on Thursday.</p>


It was a moment of joy when Hossain Rasouli, an athlete from Afghanistan, appeared on track at the ongoing Tokyo Paralympic Games 2020 and pointed towards the Afghanistan Paralympic Committee logo on his white vest on Tuesday (August 31).

It was a moment of joy when Hossain Rasouli, an athlete from Afghanistan, appeared on track at the ongoing Tokyo Paralympic Games 2020 and pointed towards the Afghanistan Paralympic Committee logo on his white vest on Tuesday (August 31). Rasouli was competing in the men's T47 long jump final and his name was at 13th place on the start list. Although, he finished last but definitely spread a message of hope on one of the most decorated global platforms. Rasouli, whose left hand was amputated after a mine explosion, finally made the much-awaited appearance of Afghanistan's appearance at the Tokyo Paralympic Games. ALSO READ | Shahid Afridi makes glaring remark, says Taliban outfit have entered Afghanistan with 'positive mindset' As he was too late to compete in his favoured T47 100m event, he entered the long jump final and recorded jumps of 4.37, 4.21 and 4.46. It did not win him a medal, but the attempts were long enough to cross physical, mental and political hurdles. Another long jumper Roderick Townsend said he didn't feel rivalry but "joy" as he said Rasouli's participation was symbolic and this is what Paralympic Games "stands for". Rasouli is one of the two Paralympians who were evacuated from Afghanistan, arriving in Tokyo with team-mate Zakia Khudadadi on Saturday (August 29), after catching a secret flight from Paris one week after being evacuated from Kabul. El velocista afgano Hossain Rasouli salta en los Paralímpicos de Tokiohttps://t.co/AVPgRNDID9 pic.twitter.com/Xg34p39QJD — Meta de Pulso (@meta_pulso) August 31, 2021 × The best 13th place ever: Afghanistan Paralympian, Hossain Rasouli, a 100 metre runner who missed his event because he was fleeing the Taliban in Kabul, competes in the long jump instead and sets a PB💪 #Tokyo2020 #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/cdC0RVmK5l — Tracey Holmes (@TraceyLeeHolmes) August 31, 2021 × Rasouli left the stadium without speaking to reporters officials have said Afghan Paralympians will not be speaking to the media during the Paralympic Games. A couple of days ago, Andrew Parsons, the president of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said he was able to see the Afghan athletes in person after they arrived, and promised that the IPC would "provide everything in our capacity" to ensure "the safest" and "calmest" environment for them to focus on their competitions. ALSO READ | US completes military withdrawal from Afghanistan Watch: × The athletes were due to arrive in Tokyo on August 17 but they could not travel to Japan after the Taliban took control over the country, routing government forces. They had missed the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games on Tuesday (August 24), however, their country's flag was carried during the event, spreading a "message of solidarity and peace". Khudadadi will make her first appearance in the women's taekwondo K44 -49kg category on Thursday.

Afghan athlete Hossain Rasouli's participation at Tokyo Paralympics is an insignia of hope and courage

<p>Afghanistan flag will be included in the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Paralympic Games 2020 said International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Andrew Parsons on Monday (August 23)&nbsp;even though the country's athletes are unable to participate.</p>

<p>During a news conference in Tokyo, the IPC president said that the inclusion of the Afghanistan flag in the opening ceremony would be a message of solidarity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Paralympic Games in Tokyo is scheduled to be held between August 24 and September 5 and the opening ceremony will take place on the 24th.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Afghan athletes are unable to get to Japan to participate in the Paralympic Games due to ongoing turmoil in their country after the insurgent group Taliban took control, routing government forces.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/the-hundred-rashid-khans-pictures-with-afghanistans-flag-painted-on-his-face-go-viral-407396">The Hundred: Rashid Khan's pictures with Afghanistan's flag painted on his face go viral</a></strong></p>

<p>On being quizzed over the same, Andrew Parsons said as quoted by Reuters, "I would like to inform you is that we will include the Afghanistan flag in the (opening) ceremony as a sign of solidarity."</p>

<p>"And I think it's just important to highlight that to you because it's a message, basically of solidarity and peace that we send to the world with that attitude. We would like to have them here, unfortunately, it's not possible, but they will be here, of course, in spirit," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On their Twitter handle, the official handle of Paralympics wrote, "Yesterday afternoon in a news briefing, the IPC mentioned including the Afghanistan flag in the ceremony as a sign of solidarity."</p>

<p>"In some outlets the IPC President has been misquoted as saying UNHCR would carry a country-specific flag. We wish to clarify that this is not the case and that a Games Volunteer will be the flag bearer," the note added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch: Women's rights become biggest casualties of Taliban rule</strong></p>

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<p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/tonnes-of-medical-supplies-stuck-due-to-kabul-airport-restrictions-who-407795">Tonnes of medical supplies stuck due to Kabul airport restrictions: WHO</a></strong></p>

<p>Previously, the IPC on August 16 had confirmed that Taekwondo athlete Zakia Khudadadi and discus thrower Hossain Rasouli would no longer be able to travel to Japan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Afghanistan Paralympic Committee's London-based Chef de Mission Arian Sadiqi had also weighed in on the situation and said that the team "could not leave Kabul in time".&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Unfortunately due to the current upheaval going on in Afghanistan the team could not leave Kabul in time," Sadiqi told Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(updated after Paralympic Games' tweet)</em></p>


Afghanistan flag will be included in the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Paralympic Games 2020 said International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Andrew Parsons on Monday (August 23) even though the country's athletes are unable to participate.

Afghanistan flag will be included in the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Paralympic Games 2020 said International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Andrew Parsons on Monday (August 23) even though the country's athletes are unable to participate. During a news conference in Tokyo, the IPC president said that the inclusion of the Afghanistan flag in the opening ceremony would be a message of solidarity. The Paralympic Games in Tokyo is scheduled to be held between August 24 and September 5 and the opening ceremony will take place on the 24th. Afghan athletes are unable to get to Japan to participate in the Paralympic Games due to ongoing turmoil in their country after the insurgent group Taliban took control, routing government forces. ALSO READ | The Hundred: Rashid Khan's pictures with Afghanistan's flag painted on his face go viral On being quizzed over the same, Andrew Parsons said as quoted by Reuters, "I would like to inform you is that we will include the Afghanistan flag in the (opening) ceremony as a sign of solidarity." "And I think it's just important to highlight that to you because it's a message, basically of solidarity and peace that we send to the world with that attitude. We would like to have them here, unfortunately, it's not possible, but they will be here, of course, in spirit," he said. On their Twitter handle, the official handle of Paralympics wrote, "Yesterday afternoon in a news briefing, the IPC mentioned including the Afghanistan flag in the ceremony as a sign of solidarity." "In some outlets the IPC President has been misquoted as saying UNHCR would carry a country-specific flag. We wish to clarify that this is not the case and that a Games Volunteer will be the flag bearer," the note added. Watch: Women's rights become biggest casualties of Taliban rule × ALSO READ | Tonnes of medical supplies stuck due to Kabul airport restrictions: WHO Previously, the IPC on August 16 had confirmed that Taekwondo athlete Zakia Khudadadi and discus thrower Hossain Rasouli would no longer be able to travel to Japan. The Afghanistan Paralympic Committee's London-based Chef de Mission Arian Sadiqi had also weighed in on the situation and said that the team "could not leave Kabul in time". "Unfortunately due to the current upheaval going on in Afghanistan the team could not leave Kabul in time," Sadiqi told Reuters. (updated after Paralympic Games' tweet)

'Act of solidarity': Tokyo Paralympics 2020 opening ceremony to include Afghanistan flag

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Afghan athlete Hossain Rasouli's participation at Tokyo Paralympics is an insignia of hope and courage

'Act of solidarity': Tokyo Paralympics 2020 opening ceremony to include Afghanistan flag