In the wake of success at the 2008 Summer Olympic games in Beijing, China, where Rohullah Nikpai won the first-ever Olympic medal for Afghanistan (a bronze in the men's under-58 kg taekwondo competition), the Afghanistan Olympic Committee has sanctioned men's water polo as a new national sport. Afghanistan Water Polo, the governing body of water polo in Afghanistan, was recently created to develop and promote the oldest team sport in the modern Olympics in a country where sports take a distant place behind the realities of war.

With an ultimate goal of sending an Afghanistan national water polo team to the 2016 Summer Olympics, Afghanistan Water Polo is busy developing quality programs to establish Afghanistan's presence on the international stage. Through creation of local, provincial and national team programs, our organization will provide opportunities for the people of Afghanistan to learn, grow, and compete internationaly.

The Olympic win shows that Afghanistan can compete on the global stage against the world's best athletes. Afghanistan has demonstrated that it can and will succeed in the face of adversity with the determination, commitment and hard work of it's most precious resource... the young people of Afghanistan.

Tryouts for the Afghanistan national water polo team were held in August, 2008, and resulted in a very talented and enthusiastic inaugural group of players that embodies our organization's core values of Fairness, Integrity, Teamwork, and a commitment to Excellence. This team is eager to participate in regional and international competition to encourage positive relations among people through sports.

Afghanistan Water Polo's vision is to develop a successful national water polo program in Afghanistan, achieving prominence and a high level of visibility both domestically and internationally. Our organization will ensure that water polo in Afghanistan is highly publicized and available to those wishing to learn and appreciate the sport. Afghanistan Water Polo will also provide opportunity for Afghan people of all ages and ability to participate in the Olympic sport of water polo.

The pathway to Afghanistan's Olympic dream will lead the Afghanistan national water polo team to train and compete in the United States in early 2009, and to competitions around the world, such as:

• 1st Asian Youth Games, Singapore
• 13th FINA World Training and Championships, Rome
• 15th Junior Men's Water Polo World Championships, Croatia

A land-locked country, Afghanistan has little history of competitive water sports. Swimming is almost entirely recreational and self-taught, with technical strokes mostly unknown. Best estimates are that less than 20% of Afghans know how to swim, with most swimming done in lakes, rivers and reservoirs.

It is also estimated that there are only thirteen pools in the entire country of Afghanistan, and most of these do not have access to the chlorine, bromine, or other pool chemicals needed to keep the water safe. According to Safewateronline.com, the water and sanitation infrastructure in Afghanistan has been severely damaged from thirty years of conflict and has mostly been rendered non-operational.

There are also no pools open during the cold months of October through April, leaving only May through September open for swimming. However, during this period, there is a thirty day period where swimming is prohibited due to the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. During Ramadan, Muslims must fast, refraining from eating or drinking anything from sunrise to sunset, including water. As one may accidently swallow water while swimming, swimming is prohibited during Ramadan.

The Afghans are truly an amazing people, having endured hardships that few Americans and other citizens of the western world could fathom. Over years of terrible conflict, many have had their homes destroyed, family members killed, and have been driven into exile in other countries.

Many Afghans are geographically separated from their families for work reasons and do not have contact with their loved ones for extended periods of time. But they still find ways to smile, laugh, and enjoy the camaraderie of friends.

And, through all of these obstacles, the Afghans are still excited to learn to swim and play "swimming football", as it is commonly called.

Afghanistan Water Polo's mission is to inspire the growth and the pursuit of domestic and International excellence in the sport of water polo for the people of Afghanistan through:

• Developing and coordinating national- and provincial-level programs and competitions for Athletes, Coaches, Officials and Aquatics Organizations;
• Participating in Regional and International competitions to encourage Positive International relationships;
• Creating and delivering Quality Programs for all levels, beginning to advanced;
• Encouraging the Continuing Development of athletes, coaches, officials and an enthusiastic fan base;
• Providing Opportunities for Afghan people of all ages and ability to participate in the Olympic sport of water polo.