BAMYAN (SW) – Winter was not like the same this year in Bamyan with no signs of the usual seasonal sports.
During the past decade, Bamyan has hosted festivals and competitions in winter sports, including skiing, every year. But this year, almost two months have passed since the beginning of winter, so far no competition has been held in this province. The athletes say that the lack of facilities and supporters is one of the reasons for not holding the competitions.
Khan Ali Ahmadi, an athlete who has been practicing skiing for seven years, says that in the past years, their training started at the start of winter and continued until the end, and during this time, several rounds of competition were also held. But this year, there is no news of the beginning of training. “Skiers in Bamyan have not been able to continue this sport due to the lack of sufficient facilities.”
Bamiani skiers say that they need facilities such as a lift/elevator to climb high hills, ski boards (snowboards), shoes and glasses for this sport, but according to them, they do not have access to other facilities except for a few ski boards that were distributed by some foreign institutions years ago.
Rahimullah Atayizada, another athlete, said: “Skiing is one of the most popular sports in the world. Currently, few skiers in Bamyan have access to the basic facilities of this sport. This sport has many enthusiasts among the youth of Bamyan, but the lack of facilities and lack of support from the current government and institutions is an obstacle to holding exercises.”
Meanwhile, Seyed Baqer Heidari, the head of the skiing federation in Bamyan, told Salam Watandar that the lack of facilities and the lack of snow have made this sport less popular this winter in this province.
“The opportunities for skiers in Bamyan are limited. On the other hand, the equipment needed for this sport is rare and very expensive in the markets of Afghanistan, which the athletes cannot afford.”
Mr. Heydari rerequested e authorities to provide financial support for the athletes, to provide equipment and grounds for holding competitions.
On the other hand, a number of female skiers in Bamyan askasked the Islamic Emirate to allow them to continue training in this sport. According to them, the continuation of restrictions will cause discouragement and migration of athletes from this province.
Muhadda Bazel, one of the female skiers in Bamyan, said that after the political developments, she and her fellow skiers have not been able to continue playing in this field and other sports. “I hope that we girls can get back into sports and practice the sports we love. A number of ski athletes have migrated abroad following political developments, including women. I ask the authorities of the Islamic Emirate to allow women to exercise.”
However, the officials of Bamyan Physical Training and Sports Authority, confirming the challenges ahead for ski athletes in this province, say that several competitions will be held in the near future.
Ziauddin Begzad, the director of physical training and sports of Bamiyan, told Salam Watandar that due to the lack of enough snow for skiing, no competition has been held yet. “Competitions between six provinces are on the way, and 12 people from each province will participate, and 72 of our athletes are registered. Only the lack of snow has brought us to a dead end, we have no more problems. We are fully prepared to host special ski competitions at the level of Bamyan.”
The director of physical training and sports of Bamyan stated that 260 male skiers are registered in this directorate, and according to him, and facilities required for skiing are not available to them.
ENDS
