KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban-led National Olympic Committee has announced the allocation of 50 million afghanis (approximately $700,000) in stipends for athletes on Afghanistan’s national teams.
At a ceremony in Kabul on Tuesday, Ahmadullah Wasiq, head of the Taliban’s General Directorate of Physical Education and Sports, said the funds—referred to as Asriya (a stipend)—will be distributed transparently and that the process is set to begin immediately.
On the first day of the distribution process, athletes from five sports federations—Vovinam, Full-Contact Fighting, Powerlifting, Zurkhaneh, and Skiing—received stipends, the Olympics committee said.
According to Wasiq, 3,767 athletes will receive the payments in cash, a measure he claimed would ensure transparency.
The announcement comes as the Taliban continue to enforce a ban on women’s sports, imposed after they returned to power in August 2021.
On the first day of distributions, athletes from five sports federations—Vovinam, Full-Contact Fighting, Powerlifting, Zurkhaneh, and Skiing—received stipends.
