TOKYO: Afghanistan’s two athletes made an “extremely emotional” arrival at the Athletes Village after a top-secret flight from Paris following their evacuation from Kabul. Khudadadi and Rasouli were welcomed to the Village on Saturday night by IPC chief Andrew Parsons and IPC Athletes’ Council chairperson Chelsey Gotell, as well as the Afghan team’s chef de mission Arian Sadiqi. Sprinter Rasouli was scheduled to compete in the men’s T47 100m but arrived too late for Saturday’s heats. Spence said the athletes’ mental health and well-being was the IPC’s “top priority”. At Tuesday’s opening ceremony, the Afghan flag featured in a symbolic fashion, carried by a volunteer.

Source: The Star August 29, 2021 22:41 UTC