Pakistan to host South Asian Games in April next year

Pakistan to host South Asian Games after 23-year gap

Pakistan will host the 14th South Asian Games from April 3 to 11, 2027, marking the country's return to hosting the regional multi-sport event for the first time since 2004, when Islamabad staged the 9th edition. The decision was approved at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the South Asia Olympic Council (SAOC) held in Islamabad, with Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) President Arif Saeed, who also chairs the SAOC, presiding.

Representatives from Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan attended the meeting in person, while India's delegation joined via video link. All representatives endorsed the proposed dates, according to sources. The event will be held in three cities: Islamabad, Lahore, and Peshawar, with Islamabad also serving as the main venue for the opening ceremony, as reported by multiple outlets.

The Games will feature 28 sports and 346 medal events, as reported by Dawn and Cricket Addictor. BOL News specifies that the event will include 28 men's and 25 women's sports, with a total of 346 gold medals. More than 3,200 athletes will participate, according to Dawn, while BOL News expects over 4,200 athletes and officials. Dawn adds that Pakistan is preparing to host around 4,000 athletes and foreign visitors, with a large number of technical officials also involved.

The federal government has given the go-ahead to the POA and other stakeholders to hold the Games and announced that required funds would be released, according to Dawn. BOL News reports that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved funding. Pakistan was originally scheduled to host the Games in 2021, but the event was postponed.

Venue inspections and preparations

Following the executive committee meeting, a visiting delegation of the SAOC inspected major sports venues in Islamabad on Monday, as reported by Dawn and The Nation. The delegation visited the Pakistan Sports Complex, where Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Director General Yawar Hussain, POA President Arif Saeed, and Secretary General Khalid Mehmood briefed officials on infrastructure development, technical facilities, and Games-related arrangements. The team inspected Jinnah Stadium, Amir Khan Hall, Hamidi Hall, Rodham Hall, Liaquat Gymnasium, and the Shooting Range at the Sports Complex, as well as Rawal Lake, according to The Nation.

They also visited the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) Tennis Complex, a proposed venue for tennis competitions, where PTF Secretary General Colonel Zia-ud-Din Tufail briefed the visitors on the complex's infrastructure and planned the game. The inspections are part of Pakistan's efforts to ensure the Games meet international standards and provide a successful experience for athletes and officials, according to The Nation.

Dawn reports that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has begun preparations to provide accommodation and other facilities for foreign visitors arriving in Islamabad next year for the South Asian Games and other international events, including the SCO and OIC meetings. The visiting delegation also toured the Taxila Museum and other historical sites on Sunday, as noted by Dawn.

India's participation

India's participation in the Games has been a point of interest, given historically limited sporting interactions between the two nations. According to reports, Indian representatives participated via video link in the SAOC meeting and expressed support for the Games being hosted in Pakistan, dismissing concerns about potential non-participation due to diplomatic tensions. Cricket Addictor reported that, as per reports in Pakistan media, India has confirmed its participation, although Dawn characterizes India's participation as uncertain.

Dawn reports that one source indicated that India's video-link attendance signaled intent to participate, while another cautioned that India's sports and politics are intertwined and that India has avoided sending teams to Pakistan in the past, such as for the 2009 SAOC meeting in Islamabad. This reflects the broader context of India-Pakistan sporting ties, which have seen no bilateral cricket series since 2013, with matches played at neutral venues, as noted by Cricket Addictor.

Perspectives

Pakistan's perspective:

Pakistan is presenting itself as fully prepared to host the Games and has the full support of the federal government, with the Prime Minister approving funding. Officials highlight modern facilities and professional arrangements, emphasizing readiness to stage a successful regional event.

India's perspective:

India's delegation joined the SAOC meeting via video link and expressed support for the Games in a format, though actual participation is reportedly uncertain, with some sources noting historical diplomatic inhibition to travel to Pakistan.

The article is based on reporting by Dawn, BOL News, Cricket Addictor, and The Nation.