"The Taliban are human - I believe in more talks'

Samira Asghari, the IOC's youngest member, says that dialogue is only way to help Afghan women access sport

- Paul MacInnes

My message for all Afghan women who play is that if there is any small opportunity, do it," Samira Asghari says. “My solid message is never, ever give up. Afghanistan was always a war-torn country, unfortunately. We have grown up in a war country. And we believe in a future Afghanistan, and the future of Afghanistan is the people.”

Asghari is 31, the youngest member of the International Olympic Committee and an exile from her home. Resident in Europe, her role requires her to try to bring an end to current restrictions which prevent Afghan women and girls from taking part in sport. In this, the people she must negotiate with are the Taliban.

There are easier jobs, but Asghari argues that Afghans have long been accustomed to life being hard. “If you ask someone in the street if they are happy, they say: ‘It’s OK, nobody’s killing each other.’” But she argues the desire for reform in the country remains and is only growing, and she believes progress can be achieved before the next Olympic Games by concentrating on grassroots change.