ISLAMABAD (Staff Report) – A three-member delegation will be sent to India in January to observe the security situation for the national contingent’s participation in the South Asian Games and then the final decision will be taken on the matter.
Khalid Mehmood, Secretary General, Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) told APP that the Pakistani delegation will include one official each of the government, POA and the Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination.
“But the final decision of Pakistan’s participation in the event will be taken after consent of the government,” he said.
He said that in a meeting with Indian counterpart, the security concerns of Pakistani contingent for SA Games were discussed and Indians had assured of foolproof security.
“We had a meeting of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) in Washington last month, and we had raised the very issue with our Indian counterpart in that meeting,” he said, adding, “The meeting’s outcome will also be conveyed to the government and what the government decides
will be the final decision.”
It is pertinent to mention that earlier representatives of national sports federations had expressed their unwillingness and reservations over participation in the SA Games due to Shiv Sena threats and India’s persistent refusal to play scheduled cricket series with Pakistan.
The federations who expressed their unwillingness over participation in the Games included Pakistan Wrestling Federation, Pakistan Wushu Federation, Pakistan Weightlifting Federation, Pakistan Cycling Federation and Pakistan Kabaddi Federation.
They said the Games should be conducted in a way where Pakistanis were given full protocol and respect. “In this way the hatred caused after the Indo-Pak cricket series issue, might get low,” they underlined.
