A two-day winter games festival kicked off in Bamiyan on Tuesday in which athletes from different provinces will compete in five winter sport categories.

The athletes are from Kabul, Ghazni, Maidan Wardak and Bamiyan.

Skiing, snowboarding, and curling are among the winter games in Bamiyan.

The festival was organized by the Union of Winter Games supported by the National Olympic Committee (NOC).

“In previous years, the festival had national and international supporters. We had participants from other countries, but this year we do not have any foreign athletes,” said Assadullah Baturi, head of the union.

The athletes meanwhile urged athletic departments to support them so they can participate in competitions inside and outside the country.

“If the government pays attention to us, we will succeed greatly and will set records at the international level,” said Assadullah, a member of the curling team.

“This game is new in Afghanistan. We do not have the necessary equipment. We bought the equipment and clothes with our own money. We should be supported,” said Erfan, a member of the curling team.

Officials of NOC and other sport departments have gone to Bamiyan to assess the status of sports in the province.

“I saw they have very poor equipment and they have made the equipment themselves. I will try to support sports, encourage athletes and provide them with better equipment,” said NOC director Nazar Mohammad Mutmaeen.

The festival will finish at the end of the day on Tuesday with the skiing and snowboarding competition. Officials said the best athletes will be selected for the winter sports national teams.