<p>Spreading a "message of solidarity and peace", the Afghanistan flag was carried during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games on Tuesday (August 24) even though the country's athletes are not participating in the Games.</p>

<p>Amid political chaos and unfortunate turn of events, the Afghanistan Paralympic Committee withdrew from the Paralympic Games after flights being cancelled out of the nation's capital, Kabul.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tokyo-2020-fireworks-light-up-olympic-stadium-as-paralympics-games-declared-open-408055">Tokyo 2020: Fireworks light up Olympic Stadium as Paralympics Games declared open</a></strong></p>

<p>Taekwondo athlete Zakia Khudadadi and discus thrower Hossain Rasouli were supposed to represent Afghanistan at the games, but they could not travel to Japan after the Taliban took control over the country, routing government forces.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, 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.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Tonight the IPC displays the Afghanistan flag at Tokyo 2020 in solidarity.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paralympics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paralympics</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tokyo2020?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tokyo2020</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OpeningCeremony?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OpeningCeremony</a> <a href="https://t.co/q3JVGh4M1d">pic.twitter.com/q3JVGh4M1d</a></p>
— Paralympic Games (@Paralympics) <a href="https://twitter.com/Paralympics/status/1430151333731094534?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>"We will include the Afghanistan flag in the Ceremony in a sign of solidarity," said Parsons.</p>

<p>"It is important to highlight that as it is a message of solidarity and peace that we send to the world.</p>

<p>"We would like to have them here, unfortunately it is not possible, but they will be here in spirit."</p>

<p>The flag was carried into the Opening Ceremony by a Tokyo 2020 volunteer.&nbsp;</p>


Spreading a "message of solidarity and peace", the Afghanistan flag was carried during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games on Tuesday (August 24) even though the country's athletes are not participating in the Games.

Spreading a "message of solidarity and peace", the Afghanistan flag was carried during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games on Tuesday (August 24) even though the country's athletes are not participating in the Games. Amid political chaos and unfortunate turn of events, the Afghanistan Paralympic Committee withdrew from the Paralympic Games after flights being cancelled out of the nation's capital, Kabul. ALSO READ | Tokyo 2020: Fireworks light up Olympic Stadium as Paralympics Games declared open Taekwondo athlete Zakia Khudadadi and discus thrower Hossain Rasouli were supposed to represent Afghanistan at the games, but they could not travel to Japan after the Taliban took control over the country, routing government forces. However, 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. Tonight the IPC displays the Afghanistan flag at Tokyo 2020 in solidarity.#Paralympics #Tokyo2020 #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/q3JVGh4M1d — Paralympic Games (@Paralympics) August 24, 2021 × "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.

Tokyo Paralympics: Afghanistan flag spreads message of 'solidarity and peace' during opening ceremony

<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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Tokyo Paralympics: Afghanistan flag spreads message of 'solidarity and peace' during opening ceremony

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