BOA officials to meet Balochistan CM, sports minister

National Games

KARACHI: A delegation of the Balochistan Olympic Association (BOA) will meet chief minister Sanaullah Zehri on Tuesday (tomorrow) to discuss matters about the National Games which the province is to hold in Quetta from November 5-12.

“The other day the Balochistan government held a meeting regarding law and order situation in the province in which the National Games were also discussed. We have not been informed about what was discussed about the event. We plan to meet the chief minister as well as the Balochistan sports minister,” BOA president Afzal Awan told ‘The News’ from Quetta on Sunday.

National Games’ fate turned uncertain following the terrorists’ attack at the Quetta’s civil hospital last month in which many lawyers were killed and several others injured.

“There are still threats. Last Friday the State Bank’s gates had been closed for public. Such a situation is really depressing for us,” Afzal added.

He also conceded that he did not know why the authorities had agreed on the time-frame in November in which the weather is extremely cold. “The players may face problems in warm-up and training that could affect their performance,” the official said.

“After taking input from the provincial government we will discuss it with the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) before taking any final decision,” Afzal said.

When asked what the ideal time-frame was for the Games, he said:  “In April the weather in Balochistan remains very good,” the BOA official said.

Afzal was not part of the meeting in which the Games’ dates were finalised because the BOA elections had not been conducted.

A POA official told this correspondent that after Eid-ul-Azha they would meet the Balochistan government regarding the issue.

The Games dates had been confirmed in Ramadan after the POA held a meeting with military and civil leadership of the province.

Athletes from across the country are to take part in 36 disciplines during the Games.  In 2010 Peshawar hosted the National Games amid serious security threats.