TOKYO (Reuters) –
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said on Sunday that the well-being
and mental health of two newly arrived
Afghan athletes are its top priority,
and the pair will not be speaking to media during the Paralympic Games.
اضافة اعلان
Zakai Khudadadi and Hossain Rasouli arrived in Tokyo on
Saturday to compete in the 2020 Paralympics after Khudadadi made a video appeal
for help to leave Kabul after the Taliban swept to power.
The two athletes met IPC President Andrew Parsons and other
officials on arrival at the village, the IPC's chief communications officer,
Craig Spence, told a news conference.
"The meeting was extremely emotional, there were lots
of tears from everyone in the room. It was remarkable, it really was a
remarkable meeting," Spence said.
Khudadadi and Rasouli had expressed a wish not to speak to
media and this would be respected.
"This is about these athletes fulfilling their dream
of being able to attend the Paralympic Games," Spence said.
"And because human life is the most important thing,
and the well-being and mental health of the athletes is our top priority, the
athletes will be doing no media during these Games."
Khudadadi, a Taekwondo athlete, and track athlete Rasouli
were evacuated from the Afghan capital a week ago and landed in Tokyo on a
flight from Paris.
The pair had been due to arrive in
Tokyo on August 17 but
were unable to leave Afghanistan after thousands of people rushed to Kabul's
airport in a bid to flee the country.
Paralympic officials had said initially the Afghan athletes
would be unable to attend the Games, which started on August 24, and promised
to help them participate in the next Games in 2024 in Paris.
Separately, the World Taekwondo association praised the
efforts of the IPC and other parties involved to ensure the two athletes could
take part in the Games.
"Zakia and Hossain's determination to overcome
adversity is an inspiration to all of us," World Taekwondo President
Chungwon Choue said in a statement.
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