Afghanistan at the Olympics Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Afghanistan at the
Olympics

Flag of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

IOC code

AFG

NOC

National Olympic Committee of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Medals
Ranked 147th

Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
0	0	2	2

Summer appearances

1936
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020

Afghanistan has taken part in the Summer Olympic Games 15 times. They have never been to the Winter Olympic Games. Their first time competing was at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. Since then, they've sent teams to 14 of the next 19 Summer Games. The team is organized by the National Olympic Committee of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) works with this committee, but not with the one set up by the Taliban.

Afghanistan at the Olympics
Medalists for Afghanistan
Images for kids
See also

Afghanistan at the Olympics

Afghanistan's field hockey team in 1956

At the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, Afghanistan sent its biggest team ever: 31 athletes. They competed in men's field hockey and football. The football team lost 6-0 to Luxembourg and did not move forward. The field hockey team won one game, tied one, and lost one. They finished third in their group and did not reach the semi-finals.

Afghanistan did not join the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. But they returned for the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne. They sent a team of 12 for the men's field hockey tournament. Six of these players had also competed in 1948.

Afghanistan did not send a team to the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. For the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, they sent only two athletes. Boxer Mohammad Jawid Aman was too late for his weigh-in and was disqualified. This left marathon runner Abdul Baser Wasiqi as the only Afghan athlete. Wasiqi pulled a muscle before the race, but still competed. He limped through the marathon and finished last.

The Afghanistan National Olympic Committee (ANOC) was stopped by the IOC in 1999. This meant Afghanistan was banned from the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. This happened because the Taliban government did not allow women to play sports. They also banned sports of any kind. Afghanistan was allowed back in 2002 after the Taliban's rule ended. They sent five athletes to the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.

Among these athletes were Robina Muqim Yaar and Friba Razayee. They were the first women ever to compete for Afghanistan at the Olympics.

Afghanistan sent four athletes to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. This included three men and one woman, Mehboba Ahdyar. Ahdyar received threats because she planned to compete.

Afghanistan won its first Olympic medal at the 2008 Beijing Games. Rohullah Nikpai won a bronze medal in men's Taekwondo (58 kg). He won another bronze medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the men's 68 kg taekwondo event.

Afghanistan returned for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Rohullah Nikpai, who had won medals before, did not compete this time. Three athletes were sent for athletics and judo. None of them won a medal or moved forward in their events. Kamia Yousufi finished last in the women's 100 meters. But she set a new Afghan national record with 14.02 seconds. She ran her race wearing a full-body kit and a hijab.

In April 2021, the ANOC announced that Fahim Anwari would be the first swimmer to represent Afghanistan at the Olympics. Afghanistan also got an invitation to send a male rifle shooter, Mahdi Yovari. This was the first time the country competed in shooting.

Afghanistan's plan to join the 2024 Summer Olympics was unclear. This was due to the political changes and the Taliban returning to power in August 2021. In June 2024, it was confirmed that Afghanistan would participate with three male and three female athletes. The Taliban said they would not recognize the three female athletes, who live outside Afghanistan. The IOC did not allow any Taliban officials to attend. All six athletes competed under the flag and anthem of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.