National Olympic Committee of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

National Olympic Committee of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
National Olympic Committee of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan logo
Country/Region Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
CodeAFG
Created1920
Recognized1936
Continental
Association		OCA
HeadquartersKabul, Afghanistan
PresidentHafizullah Wali Rahimi
Secretary GeneralMohammad Yonus Popalzay
CEODad Mohammad Paida Akhtari[1]
Websitewww.olympic.af[dead link‍]

National Olympic Committee of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, formerly Afghanistan National Olympic Committee (Persian: کمیته ملی المپیک افغانستان, IOC code: AFG) is the National Olympic Committee representing Afghanistan.

Parade of athletes in Chaman-e-Hozori, following the flag of the Afghanistan National Olympic Committee in the 1930s
Flag of the Olympic Committee used in the 30s
Logo of the Olympic Committee from the period of the first Republic (1974–1978)

The Olympic committee was created in 1920, but was recognised in 1936, in time for Afghanistan’s Olympic debut at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany.

The committee counsels Afghanistan’s Olympic movement and organises the participation of athletes in Olympic sports to represent Afghanistan at the Summer Olympics and Summer Youth Olympic, and also the Asian Games. Committee presidents are elected at Extraordinary General Assemblies (EGAs).

Hafizullah Wali Rahimi was elected as president of the committee in 2018. Following the 2021 Taliban takeover, Nazar Mohammad Mutmaeen was appointed in his place. However, as of the 2022 Asian Games (held in 2023) and the 2024 Summer Olympics, the Olympic Council of Asia and International Olympic Committee continue to recognize Rahimi as president.[2][3][4][5] Rahimi has been described by the IOC as a president in exile.[6] In May 2024, the Taliban government, in violation of the Olympic Charter, merging the National Olympic Committee with the General Directorate of Physical Education and Sport to form the General Directorate of Olympics, Physical Education and Sports, currently headed by Ahmadullah Wasiq.[7]

  1. ^ "Leadership of the A-NOC Official Olympics.af". Olympic.af.
  2. ^ "Afghanistan Nation Olympic Committee". Olympic.org. Archived from the original on 2024-01-20.
  3. ^ "New IOC human rights strategy brought to the test in negotiations with the Taliban regime".
  4. ^ "OCA » Afghanistan". Archived from the original on 2024-01-20.
  5. ^ "Afghanistan to send gender equal team to the Olympics". 14 June 2024.
  6. ^ "IOC Executive Board receives updates on activities of NOCs".
  7. ^ "Eight Govt Institutions Merged Into Ministries". TOLONews. 15 May 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.