Sahi-led POA refuses to back down
Government-backed Olympic body stays rigid despite facing possible ban.
There have been reports that if the sports policy is revised, the IOC-backed POA – headed by Arif Hasan – will be able to work without any interference. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
The government-backed Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) has indicated its unwillingness to step back despite the country facing a possible suspension from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and the Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) Sports ministry have been repeatedly asked by the IOC to sort out the issue of two Olympic bodies in the country.
However, the Akram Sahi-led group remains staunch in its belief that it is the only genuine Olympic body in Pakistan.
“We’re not stepping back just because there is a possible ban on the cards,” an official of the POA in question told The Express Tribune.
“It has been said several times that the Sahi group was formed with proper backing of the sports federations in Pakistan, so there is no reason why we shouldn’t stand our ground.
“As per the National Sports Policy, it was crucial to form this POA in which the officer bearers will start fresh terms as the previous stakeholders had already served their two tenures.”
‘Sports policy revision would not affect us’
The official further added that even if the National Sports Policy is revised in the near future, it will have no bearing on them.
There have been reports that if the sports policy is revised, the IOC-backed POA – headed by Arif Hasan – will be able to work without any interference.
“Even if the policy is revised, it will not affect the working of the POA because proper elections have taken place to form the new body.”
Hasan was contacted for his comments on the development but was unavailable until the filing of this report.
An important meeting is likely to take place this month between the official of both POAs, IPC Ministry and IOC in Lausanne, Switzerland as the deadlock between the parallel bodies continues.
The IOC is reportedly displeased with the government’s interference with the POA headed by Arif Hasan, and the governing body has warned that a ban could be imposed on Pakistan in July if there is no headway in the matter.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 4th, 2014.
The government-backed Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) has indicated its unwillingness to step back despite the country facing a possible suspension from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and the Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) Sports ministry have been repeatedly asked by the IOC to sort out the issue of two Olympic bodies in the country.
However, the Akram Sahi-led group remains staunch in its belief that it is the only genuine Olympic body in Pakistan.
“We’re not stepping back just because there is a possible ban on the cards,” an official of the POA in question told The Express Tribune.
“It has been said several times that the Sahi group was formed with proper backing of the sports federations in Pakistan, so there is no reason why we shouldn’t stand our ground.
“As per the National Sports Policy, it was crucial to form this POA in which the officer bearers will start fresh terms as the previous stakeholders had already served their two tenures.”
‘Sports policy revision would not affect us’
The official further added that even if the National Sports Policy is revised in the near future, it will have no bearing on them.
There have been reports that if the sports policy is revised, the IOC-backed POA – headed by Arif Hasan – will be able to work without any interference.
“Even if the policy is revised, it will not affect the working of the POA because proper elections have taken place to form the new body.”
Hasan was contacted for his comments on the development but was unavailable until the filing of this report.
An important meeting is likely to take place this month between the official of both POAs, IPC Ministry and IOC in Lausanne, Switzerland as the deadlock between the parallel bodies continues.
The IOC is reportedly displeased with the government’s interference with the POA headed by Arif Hasan, and the governing body has warned that a ban could be imposed on Pakistan in July if there is no headway in the matter.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 4th, 2014.