Afghan Bgirl Manizha Talash, a member of the Refugee Olympic Team, was disqualified for displaying a political message on stage. Last Friday, during a performance at La Concorde, Paris, Talash revealed a cape bearing the inscription “Free Afghan Women,” prompting an immediate response from the International DanceSport Federation. The following day, the federation confirmed her disqualification, citing a violation of Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter.
Olympic Charter rule 50: a controversial debate
Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter strictly prohibits athletes from expressing political, religious, or racial opinions during the Games. According to the federation, “Bgirl Talash was disqualified for displaying a political message on her attire, in violation of Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter.” This decision has sparked debates about the role of freedom of expression in sports, particularly for athletes who wish to use their platform to raise awareness about important causes.
Manizha Talash, 21, began her duel against Dutch Bgirl India just after unveiling her blue cape with the message. Born in Kabul, Talash fled Afghanistan to escape the growing repression under the Taliban regime, which has been in power since 2021. “I didn’t leave Afghanistan because I’m afraid of the Taliban or because I can’t live there. I left to do what I can for the girls of Afghanistan, for my life and my future,” she said before the competition, illustrating her determination to advocate for the rights of women in her country.
The impact of a symbolic gesture: sport and activism collide
Talash discovered breaking, a dance discipline rooted in hip-hop culture, at the age of 18, inspired by online videos. Her participation in the Olympics marks the first appearance of breaking on the Olympic stage, a significant milestone for the sport. However, the young woman could not advance beyond the first round of the competition, being defeated by Bgirl India before being disqualified for her symbolic gesture.
Talash’s disqualification has echoed within the international community, drawing attention to the situation of women in Afghanistan and the broader issue of freedom of expression in sports. Some argue that the Olympics should remain an apolitical space, while others believe athletes have the right to use their visibility to address urgent global issues.
Meanwhile, Japanese Bgirl Ami, 25, won the competition, becoming the first Olympic champion in the history of breaking. However, the legacy of these first Olympic Games for breaking is now marked by the controversy surrounding Talash’s disqualification, highlighting the tensions between the principles of the Olympic Charter and the athletes’ aspirations to make their voices heard on crucial social issues.
Bgirl Talash’s eviction from the Olympics for her “political message” highlights a complex debate on the role of athletes in social activism and the limits of freedom of expression on the international sports stage.
To read: Three years under Taliban rule: Afghan women banned from parks in “a cruel and heartless move”