The 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games are set to begin Tuesday. The best of the best will compete for the title of Paralympian and win medals for their respective countries. But I believe authorities should cancel the Games. Here’s why.
The reason is simple. The Taliban has taken over Afghanistan, and multiple Afghanistan athletes set to compete in the Paralympics won’t participate. One of these athletes, Zakia Khudadadi, was set to make history as Afghanistan’s first female Paralympic athlete, and she has issued a plea for assistance.
Zakia Khudadadi: I intend to participate in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. I urge you all–from the women around the globe, institutions for the protection of women, from all government organizations, to not let the rights of a female citizen of Afghanistan in the Paralympic movement be taken away so easily. The fact that we ourselves have lifted ourselves from this situation and achieved so much cannot be taken lightly. I have suffered a lot. I don’t want my struggle to be in vain and without any results. Help me.
To the organization running the Paralympics, I beg you–out of respect for these Afghanistan athletes who are now out of the games–to cancel the Games.
I pray for the health and wellness of all the citizens of Afghanistan. Positivity is needed right now.
