‘sport is a sign of life for Afghanistan’
Amman, Jordan: A young Afghanistan Member of Parliament has made an impassioned call for her compatriots to unite behind sport in order to help bring an end to the country’s bloodshed.
Speaking at the fifth international camp for Generations For Peace, the global initiative created by HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein, President of the Jordan Olympic Committee, Sabrina Saqib said her country had suffered for far too long and with the situation seemingly getting worse, she believes it is time for the sporting community make a difference.
“Afghanistan has become known for war, violence, opium and corruption but I dream that one day it will be known for athletes, sport, peace and harmony,” said Sabrina, who at 30 is one of the youngest members of Afghanistan’s parliament. “As women in particular we face many cultural and traditional barriers to taking part in sport but all of these problems or concerns can be overcome by finding solutions so that everyone can play sport no matter where they come from.”
Sabrina believes the country’s athletes can become respected ambassadors for peace with several having achieved incredible international success already – notably the cricket team which came close to qualifying for the World Cup and taekwondo star Rohullah Nikpai who defied the odds to win bronze at the Beijing Olympics.
“We have many good champions and many more that can become champions and all of them are determined to make Afghanistan a better place,” she said.
“Our young people have such energy but we must all work together to remove the bombs and the guns from their hands and to involve them in more meaningful and fun activity like sport,” she said. “Sport is a sign of life and hope in Afghanistan and Generations For Peace provides the knowledge and support for people like me to use when we return home.”
Sabrina was raised in exile in Iran after fleeing the country with her family at a young age but she returned after the fall of the Taliban to try and help to rebuild the country. She was elected as a representative for Kabul at the last elections and is also a member of the Afghan Olympic Committee, Olympic Council For Asia Women and Sport Committee and Islamic Federation of Women and Sport.
She is one of 80 delegates from 13 countries enjoying the 10-day camp which has reached its midway point in Amman, Jordan. The innovative Generations For Peace programme combines practical sports sessions with interactive classroom discussion conducted by professionals in conflict resolution that confront the real issues faced by the delegates and how they can overcome them by implementing Generations For Peace projects within their own community. The camp runs until December 16.