Afghanistan at the 2020 Summer Paralympics
A delegation representing Afghanistan competed at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, Japan, from 24 August to 5 September 2021 which was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Afghan delegation consisted of two athletes; Zakia Khudadadi in taekwondo and Hossain Rasouli in para-athletics. The former became Afghanistan's first female Paralympian. After the Fall of Kabul on 15 August 2021, Afghanistan's participation was left uncertain due to the Taliban takeover of the country, but its athletes were later successfully evacuated. The delegation used the national symbols of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the internationally recognized government which administered the country prior to the Taliban takeover. Background Afghanistan's participation was made uncertain by the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan following the Fall of Kabul on 15 August 2021. The organizers of the Paralympics initially announced that Afghanistan would be unable to compete. Afghanistan was represented in the Parade of Nations and the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was invited to send a representative as a "sign of solidarity" despite the country's formal withdrawal. However the UNHCR declined to name a representative and a volunteer served as Afghanistan's flagbearer instead. On 28 August 2021, Zakia Khudadadi and Hossain Rasouli