A cooperation agreement has been signed between the Afghanistan National Olympic Committee and the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan ©A-NOC

A cooperation agreement has been signed between the Afghanistan National Olympic Committee (A-NOC) and the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The agreement includes training for Afghan coaches and sports managers, establishment of training camps for coaches and athletes in Kazakhstan and the exchange of coaches and participation of athletes in international and regional competitions.

The deal was signed during last weekend's 38th Olympic Council of Asia General Assembly in Bangkok. 

The A-NOC delegation was headed by Talal Al Shinqeeti, its acting secretary-general.

He was joined by Ahmed Al Tayeb, director of technical and sports affairs, and Batti Al Abdouli, manager of performance follow-up and development office at the A-NOC. 

Kazakhstan was represented by its vice-president Andrey Kryukov.

Afghanistan have won two Olympic medals since their debut at Berlin 1936, both by taekwondo player Rohullah Nikpai, at Beijing 2008 and London 2012 ©Getty Images
Afghanistan have won two Olympic medals since their debut at Berlin 1936, both by taekwondo player Rohullah Nikpai, at Beijing 2008 and London 2012 ©Getty Images

Afghanistan has competed in 14 Summer Olympic Games since their debut at Berlin in 1936. 

But their participation has been affected by war and conflict in the country. 

Afghanistan was suspended by the International Olympic Committee in 1999 and subsequently banned from Sydney 2000 due to its discrimination against women under the rule of the Taliban and its prohibition of sports of any kind. 

The country was re-instated in 2002, following the fall of the Taliban, and sent five representatives to Athens 2004, including two women. 

Afghanistan won their first Olympic medal at Beijing 2008, with Rohullah Nikpai winning a bronze in the men's taekwondo 58 kilograms division, and their second at London 2012 with another bronze for Nikpai in the men's 68kg.