Oxford Products supports Afghan Worlds Team
Oxford Products has taken a supporting role for the mechanic signed up to assist the Afghanistan cycling team at this year’s UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow.
It has been 2 years since the withdrawal of UK and international forces from Afghanistan, during which there has been a rapid decline in women’s rights and ‘more than 8 million Afghans have been driven out of their homes’ (UN Refugee Agency, 18/07/2023). Seven of which are cyclists who faced persecution for competing in the sport they loved.
Fast forward to 2023, the Afghan men’s and women’s teams are now set to compete at the UCI Cycling World championship with the help from a dedicated group who wanted to make their dreams of reaching an elite-level event come true.
In a brief meeting a few weeks ago, Oxford sat down with Lee Niven, a bike mechanic and store owner of Otec bikes. Lee had been called in to support the Afghan team with their mechanical needs and was looking for product support to help him complete his role. Here, Oxford offered to help, as itwas apparent that the team were lacking supplies in certain areas. The business looked at its portfolio of products, working out how it could best support Lee.
Oxford will be supplying Lee with a variety of components from Fullstop, Livewire, MINT and Torque precision tools to ensure the women’s and men’s teams have fully functioning Trek bikes before and during their races.
As a business, “we are delighted to help the Afghanistan team – firstly because they need and deserve it but also to show our full support for Lee, who is a great tech, an overall good guy and a valued Oxford customer”.
The announcement from the brand concludes by stating that the business is understandably proud to be supporting the Afghan National team whilst they compete in Glasgow, along with people who make the future of cycling happen.
Full team list Women:
Fariba Hashimi
Arefa Amini
Yulduz Hashimi
Zahra Rezayee
Full team list Men:
Qais Haidari
Ahmad Mirzaee
Mohamad Islam Jorat
Special thanks also to Lee Niven, James Hey, and Trek Bike store Bracknell.
