Australia evacuates over 50 female Afghan athlete and dependents

Australia evacuated over 50 Afghan women athletes and their dependants, after their plight drew the support of several prominent former sporting figures.

Australia has for more than a week been evacuating its citizens and some of its former staff from its embassy in Afghanistan after the Taliban seized control of capital Kabul.

Nikki Dryden, who swam for Canada at two Olympic Games, worked with an Australian lawyer to complete the visa applications for the Afghan athletes.

The refugee advocates secured the help of Australia’s former soccer captain Craig Foster, amid fears that a protracted visa process would scupper the plan.

The Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC), said Foster lobbied Foreign Minister, Marise Payne and Sports Minister Richard Colbeck, soon afterwards, the athletes secured visas and then managed to make it to the airport in Kabul for an evacuation flight out of Afghanistan.

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Kamila/Reuters