Afghanistan

Afghanistan otherwise known as Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, meaning Land of the Afghans 

Its terrain is either plains or rugged mountains and the countries capital is Kabul.

About Afghanistan

Country flag
Short Name
AFG
Capital
Kabul
Language
Dari (Persian) and Pashto
Population
32,738,376
Area
647,500 km²
Calling Code
+93

National Olympic Committee

Country flag
NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE
National Olympic Committee of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Secretary General
Recognition Year
1936
Address
Headquarter, Ghazi stadium, Kabul,Afghanistan

Sports

Working together with Afghanistan National Olympic Committee, the Afghan Sports Federation promotes cricket, association football, basketball, volleyball, golf, handball, boxing, taekwondo, weightlifting, bodybuilding, track and field, skating, bowling, snooker, chess, and other sports in the country.

The country’s most iconic sports athlete is Rohullah Nikpai, who was the first Afghan representative of his nation to win a medal for Afghanistan in the Olympics. He won Bronze in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, the only two occasions Afghanistan have received medals. This sport has recently thrived in Afghanistan by his influence.

Other popular sports practiced in Afghanistan are football, cricket, martial arts, bodybuilding, basketball boxing.

Climate

It experiences four distinct seasons and sharp temperature contrasts according to time of day, season and elevation.

It has extremely cold winters with a lot of snowfall in the mountains and very hot dry summers while spring and autumn are the rainier seasons.

Culture

Afghans display pride in their religion, country, ancestry, and above all, their independence. 

Afghan’s cuisine is renowned for its delicious flavour and aromatic spices. The dietary staples are rice and bread (naan). Other basic foods include cheese, beef, lamb, chicken, eggs, tea and numerous fruits and vegetables. As in other Muslim countries, livestock must be slaughtered according to Islamic rites (halal).

Afghanistan’s most popular art is poetry. The country’s poetic heritage spans many centuries and cultures. Poems traditionally celebrate heroic virtues, romantic love and religious piety. The most important Pashtu poet is Kaushal Khan Khattak, a 17th century chieftain and warrior who also wrote books on philosophy, medicine and ethics.

SPORTS
NOC
Asian Games men's cricket champions India seeded direct to quarterfinals at Aichi-Nagoya
26.07.2026
NOC
Afghanistan NOC President mourns cricket star Shapoor Zadran
09.07.2026
SPORTS
NOC
Afghanistan NOC funds wrestling and boxing technical coaching course
01.07.2026
SPORTS
NOC
Afghanistan cricket delegation to promote the game in China
11.05.2026
NOC
IOC Session elects Kim Jae Youl (KOR) as EB member
05.02.2026
NOC
COUNCIL
Afghanistan NOC President-in-exile Hafizullah Wali Rahimi receives OCA Order of Merit
26.01.2026
GAMES
NOC
Afghanistan sisters strike a blow for women’s sport in their country
25.10.2025
NOC
Afghanistan NOC officials meet with IOC on sidelines of OCA GA
15.05.2025
NOC
Olympian Robina Jalali hopes for ‘free and prosperous’ Afghanistan on International Women’s Day
11.03.2025
GAMES
NOC
Afghanistan’s prodigal son Ahmad Habibzi proud to compete in Harbin AWG
07.02.2025
NOC
Afghanistan in deep mourning for bodybuilding hero Ali Reza Asahi, 49
24.01.2025
NOC
Afghanistan’s Robina Jalali receives certificate of participation from IOC, Paris 2024
09.10.2024
NOC
Afghanistan IOC Member calls for help from international community
28.07.2024
NOC
Afghanistan to send six athletes to Paris 2024
15.06.2024
NOC
Afghanistan’s ‘Flying Angels’ will inspire women around the world at Hangzhou Asian Games
06.09.2023
SPORTS
NOC
Afghanistan’s Alyas Mayar believes sport is perfect antidote to worldly problems
06.08.2023
NOC
Afghanistan women’s cycling event to be held in Switzerland
16.06.2022
NOC
IOC President outlines support for Olympic community in Afghanistan
09.09.2021
NOC
Afghanistan flag to be displayed in Paralympics opening ceremony
24.08.2021
NOC
Afghan sprinter Kimia sets national record at Tokyo 2020
30.07.2021
NOC
Afghanistan NOC holds send-off ceremony for Tokyo-bound track team
05.07.2021
NOC
National Athletes’ Forum marks Olympic Day in Afghanistan
25.06.2021
NOC
IOC member Samira Asghari sends best wishes to Afghan athletes ahead of Tokyo Olympics
09.06.2021
NOC
Afghanistan and Iran NOCs discuss sports cooperation
01.06.2021
NOC
Afghanistan NOC discusses cooperation with Emirates Airlines
26.05.2021
NOC
Afghanistan NOC promotes equestrian skills ahead of national competition
20.04.2021
NOC
Afghanistan NOC celebrates two national records for swimmer Anwari
07.04.2021
NOC
Afghanistan NOC President wishes weightlifting team all the best in Tokyo qualifying bid
31.03.2021
NOC
Afghanistan NOC receives support from Turkey for Islamic Solidarity Games
25.03.2021
NOC
Afghanistan NOC, taekwondo federation greet Korean ambassador
17.03.2021
NOC
Afghanistan NOC rewards top female coaches of national sports associations
10.03.2021
NOC
NOCs across Asia mark International Women’s Day 2021
08.03.2021
NOC
Afghanistan NOC strengthens media activities at two-day workshop
05.03.2021
NOC
Central Asia RADO takes ‘big step forward’ in Afghanistan
30.11.2020
NOC
Afghanistan NOC promotes gymnastics trials
16.11.2020
NOC
Afghanistan NOC holds reception for jujitsu team
09.11.2020
NOC
Afghanistan surfing receives shot in the arm from International Surfing Association
02.11.2020
NOC
Afghanistan’s female sports leaders call for role in peace negotiations
25.10.2020
NOC
Afghanistan NOC mourns loss of cricketer Najeeb Tarakai, 29
07.10.2020
NOC
Afghanistan NOC promotes sports management course
28.09.2020
NOC
Afghanistan NOC President takes part in football friendly
14.09.2020
NOC
Sports in Afghanistan resume under strict health guidelines
09.09.2020
NOC
Afghanistan NOC holds reception for powerlifting champion
02.09.2020
NOC
Afghanistan NOC announces Olympic Solidarity scholarships for taekwondo pair
27.08.2020
NOC
Life story of Afghan Olympic hero Rohullah Nikpai to be made into a movie
24.08.2020
NOC
Afghanistan NOC President hands out handball certificates
24.08.2020
NOC
Afghanistan NOC opens sports administration seminar
11.08.2020
NOC
Afghanistan NOC President thanks national federations for support and progress
28.07.2020
NOC
Afghanistan Rugby Federation thanks NOC for support
14.07.2020
NOC
Afghanistan NOC moves for closer cooperation with Qatar
13.07.2020
NOC
Afghanistan NOC marks International Day of Sports Journalists
02.07.2020
NOC
Afghanistan NOC signs athlete scholarship agreements with four sports federations
17.06.2020
NOC
OCA youth camp attendees from Afghanistan build on Skateistan success
16.04.2020
NOC
Malaysia set to hold first national sambo championship in 2020
28.10.2019