SA Games' body to meet on 25th to decide dates, other issues

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) is awaiting Indian delegates' confirmation for the important South Asian Olympic Committee (SAOC) meeting scheduled in Lahore on February 25 to decide the 14th SA Games dates.

Well-informed sources have told ‘The News’ that all Member Countries barring India have confirmed their participation in the meeting to be chaired by Arif Saeed, president SA Olympic Committee. Indian Olympic Association, it is believed, is awaiting the concerned ministry’s approval to travel to Pakistan else they will be attending the meeting online.

An important meeting has been convened to decide the final dates to hold the mega event in Pakistan. The 14th edition of the SA Games was originally scheduled to be held in Pakistan in 2021 but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, later because of the Tokyo Olympics, and then to lackluster response from the government in Pakistan, the dates kept on changing. Now the member countries are gathering in Lahore on February 25 to discuss and in all probability to finalise the dates.

‘The News’ has learnt that the new dates could be just before the start of Ramazan 2026 (early February 2026) or around these weeks. However, it all depends on the Member countries’ response on the appropriate dates for the long-delayed edition.

The South Asian countries are keen to get the final dates of the Games so that they can start the required preparations. The Member Countries have shown keen interest in participating in the 14th edition of the Games and have asked to finalise the dates on many occasions in consultation with the government of Pakistan.

Earlier, Member Countries gave the go-ahead to the POA to set November-December 2025 dates as a possible time to hold the Games. These dates may not suit Pakistan due to the thick foggy conditions in and around Lahore which is expected to be one of the major centres to host the Games.

Sources confirmed that the member countries were interested to know as what measures will be taken by the government of Pakistan to complete the visa and traveling facilities for the visiting teams and officials.

“Since they are keen to know about the visas and traveling facilities to be offered to the visiting teams and officials, they want a concrete answer from the government of Pakistan on these issues. These issues will also be up for discussion in the February 25 meeting,” a source confirmed.

Venues for different sports will also come under discussion. Lahore and Islamabad are expected to share the hosting rights of the 14th SA Games. Lahore is likely to hold archery, badminton, basketball, boxing, fencing, football, golf, hockey, judo, Kabaddi, Karate, rugby, shooting, swimming, taekwondo, weightlifting, wrestling and cricket competitions with Islamabad expected to host athletics, rowing, squash, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, wushu, billiard, snooker and triathlon.