President Ashraf Ghani has in a decree dissolved the Afghanistan National Olympic Committee (NOC) chaired by Mahmoud Hanif to prevent having parallel departments. 

Previously there had been two National Olympic Committees. One was chaired by Hanif and the other by Mohammad Zahir Aghbar.

The NOC under Hanif has now been dissolved by the decree. The decree says that the decision was taken in consultation with the officials of the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Council of Asia. 

The president also has ordered the leadership team of the committee to hold elections in line with the International Olympic Committee and Olympic Council of Asia to elect a new chief for Afghanistan National Olympic Committee.  

“All our brothers who were busy in parallel institutions can come here to register their complaints if they have any, and also share their opinions. I am happy that the National Olympic Committee and the Directorate of the Physical Education have one shared goal. We can now work jointly for the youth,” the chairman of Afghanistan National Olympic Committee Mohammad Zahir Aghbar said.

“Now as the Olympic problem resolved, we have 10 to 15 federations that have been divided into two parts. We hope that our friends do not force us to use power to take further steps,” the technical deputy of the directorate of physical education Mirwais Bahavi said. 

The NOC meanwhile said a delegation from the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Council of Asia will come to Afghanistan in next 10 days to specify the NOC election day.