Israeli-Canadian philanthropist Sylvan Adams sat down with i24NEWS on Sunday to talk about his efforts in the world of sports diplomacy.
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Adams worked to sponsor the rescue of the Afghan women's cycling team after the Taliban took over.
"As you know, I'm involved in the sport of cycling," the businessman detailed.
"I was contacted by a journalist who had interviewed me a few years ago."
He explained that the journalist was familiar with his humanitarian initiatives, and had a contact who was close to the women's cycling team.
"With the Taliban running over the entire country, these poor girls were terrified," Adams explained.
Adams reached out to IsraAID for help, an Israel-based NGO which provides humanitarian assistance around the world.
"Whatever it takes, I've got this covered financially," the philanthropist told IsraAID.
The team traveled to a land crossing into an unnamed country, where "at one point they had literally Taliban rifles trained on them at the border, without permission to walk into the neighboring country," the businessman detailed.
He reached out to a contact familiar with the unspecified nation's leader to ask for passage through the country.
The athletes are currently working on their refugee applications for Canada.
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Adams also disclosed that talks are underway for a joint regional 2030 World Cup bid with Israel.
"We would do it with three other neighbors, which are Egypt, the UAE, and - I'm gonna surprise you - Saudi Arabia."
"Sport can be a bridge towards relationships… It can change the whole paradigm in this region, and around the world," he explained.
This article was first published by i24NEWS.
