Tokyo, Japan, August 4, 2021: Afghanistan’s IOC Member Samira Asghari believes the postponed Tokyo Olympics and the global fight against the pandemic have made the athletes from around the world even more united.
In a Facebook post, Samira tells of her pride in presenting medals at the women’s 3x3 basketball victory ceremony, herself a keen basketball player in Afghanistan and former captain of the women’s national team.
“Despite Covid-19 and all the restrictions here in the XXXII Olympiad 2020 in Tokyo, I am thrilled by the amazing victories. Different countries from all over the world are winning medals,” she said.
“This time it is a different Olympic Games. Athletes and countries are so competitive but also very united, which is a lesson learned from this Coronavirus crisis.
“It was a privilege and honour to present the 3x3 women's final gold, silver and bronze medals of the XXXII Olympiad to the great athletes from the United States of America, the Russian Olympic Committee and the People's Republic of China teams.
“The Olympic Games are a unique tool to unite people and countries and to understand and feel the joy of empowering each other without discrimination.”
Samira, 27, became a member of the International Olympic Committee in 2018. She has played kung fu/wushu, football as goalkeeper, basketball and skateboarding during her sports career.