Sports bodies back Quaid Games decision

ISLAMABAD: National sports federations officials show full support and backing to government’s recent decision to hold the second edition of Quaid-i-Azam Inter-Provincial Games in an effort to bring to the fore talent in all Olympic sports at early age.

The five-day Youth Games get under way the Pakistan Sports Complex from December 25.A meeting held under the chair of Dr Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera, Director General Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and was participated by concerned secretaries and officials to give final touches to the organization of the Games. “ I am pleased to share with media that all federation officials who were here for the meeting have shown their full support for the Games as they believe that it’s an ample opportunity to spot the talent at right age and to also get the technical expertise in respective fields,” Dr Akhtar Nawaz said.

He confirmed that apart from two to three games that directly had a link with our traditions, majority Olympic sports were picked for the Games. “There is no proper system of talent hunt at this point of time in different sports. What we want is to pick and spot the talent from these youth games and groom and encourage them for future international Games including Asian, South Asian and Commonwealth.”

The DG PSB also stressed on the federation officials to depute qualified technical officials to officiate the Games disciplines. “These Games would not only provide opportunities to the players and athletes, it would also provide an opportunity for the technical officials to hone their skills for future international events. Unless and until we have qualified coaches and technical officials, grooming budding players would not be easy.”

He said that Games are also meant to cement inter provincial harmony through sports. “I think it would be an ideal opportunity to inculcate inter-provincial harmony through sports. These Games would serve multiple purposes.

Dr Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera thanked federations for showing full support and co-operation for successful conduct of the Games in a befitting way. “The representatives of the federations were of the view that these games will be a source of national talent hunt. The upcoming and budding sportspersons would be groomed and included in the main stream in future,” Dr Ganjera said.

On the request of concerned federations, weight category of +105 kg included in weightlifting discipline, strength of karate (female) was increased from 10 to 12, snooker – 6 Red event (duration 2 days), singles event (duration 2 days), team event (duration 1 day) were approved.

As many as 451 technical officials would conduct the Games, making in one of the highly backed and supported event. The payment of the technical officials will be paid to the concerned NSFs for payment to the technical officials. The NSFs will submit adjustment to meet the audit requirements. The NSFs were advised to submit requirement of sports equipment to be used during the Games. They were requested to submit the list by 19th December, 2017.