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Afghan athletes who escaped from Kabul were dramatically invited to participate in the Tokyo Paralympic Games. The international community who joined forces was very helpful.
Correspondent Lee Jeong-chan.
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Rasouli, a sprinter, and Kudadadi, a taekwondo player, who were scheduled to leave on the 16th, were in danger of being frustrated as the Taliban took control of Kabul.
Kudadadi, who dreamed of being the first Afghan female athlete to perform at the Paralympic Games, appealed earnestly.
[Kudadadadi / Afghan Paralympic Taekwondo player: I want to participate in the Tokyo Paralympic Games. please hold my hand Please help.]
Immediately the whole world came together.
Australia and other countries cooperated to rescue athletes from Kabul to Paris, France on the 23rd, and the International Paralympic Committee IPC showed the 'will of solidarity' by entering the Afghan flag at the opening ceremony the next day even though there was no delegation.
In tight security,
[Aryan Saadiki/Afghan national team leader (last 25th): There is nothing I can say right now. I'll contact you. I'm sorry.] The
players arrived in Tokyo safely on the night of last night (28th), 6 days after escaping from Kabul.
IPC conveyed the atmosphere of the first meeting with the players like this.
[Craig Spence / International Paralympic Committee Spokesperson: It was very moving, and everyone in the space shed tears. It was an amazing, truly amazing meeting.]
In a statement, the Afghan delegation thanked the international community and the World Taekwondo Federation for their assistance.
[Jo Jung-won / World Taekwondo Federation President: I did a natural thing. Because the spirit of Taekwondo itself is to help the underprivileged.]
The dramatic participation of Afghan athletes will be remembered as an example of demonstrating the motto of this tournament, "Being one with emotion" in action.
(Video coverage: Kim Yong-woo, video editing: Nam Il)