The National Games held under the auspices of the PbOA were declared illegal by the PSB, which plans to hold the ‘legitimate’ version in March. PHOTO: PUNJAB OLYMPIC ASSOCIATION
The meeting went ahead despite opposition from the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) and the Pakistan Football Federation. Both bodies were against the proceedings, citing a stay-order from the Lahore High Court. However, the PSB and IPC officials met as planned. Chaired by the new IPC sports wing secretary Fareedullah Khan, the meeting ended with the formation of a seven-member committee that will oversee relevant issues.
“A seven-member ad-hoc committee has been formed,” an official present in the meeting told The Express Tribune. “It will be responsible for holding the National Games and ensuring proper implementation of the national sports policy. The new secretary is keen to promote sports and wants to put an end to the problems that are hurting the games. He stressed that the aim of any sporting body should be serving the games rather than rigidly defending personal differences.”
The committee will be headed by Basketball Federation President Asif Bajwa while other members include Shanawaz Murree as representative of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s senator Ghulam Ali and Mudassir Arain from Sindh. The nominees from departmental units are Zafar Luck and Colonel Qaiser Mustufa. It has been learnt that the committee has been asked to look into the day-to-day affairs of the federations and sports bodies that are violating the national sports policy by refusing to abide by the rules.
The official added that the members of the meeting unanimously decided not to pursue the issue of the POA presidency as they had already sent a clear message to General (retd) Arif Hasan about his ineligibility as the president and had called for new elections as well.
“The committee will administer the sports policy in its true essence, a procedure that has long been delayed.”
National Games to be held again
Meanwhile, the PSB has decided to stage the National Games in March, maintaining its stance on the ‘illegality’ of the events held in December last year by the Punjab Olympic Association (PbOA).
It is pertinent to mention here that the games conducted by the PbOA were not supported by the armed forces and none of the top athletes took part in the event.
“The National Games will be held in March but a venue will be decided later,” said the official. “It is the most prestigious event in the country and it cannot be staged without top athletes and complete facilities. The event that took place in December has no official recognition and the athletes were forced to participate in it as they were helpless against their department’s decision.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 9th, 2013.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ