POA executive committee, general council meeting today

KARACHI: Pakistan Olympic Association’s (POA) executive committee and general council will meet in Lahore on Wednesday (today) to discuss some important matters.

A top official of POA told ‘The News’ on Tuesday that the meetings would be held as per schedule.

The official said that besides the Olympic movement, matters regarding South Asian Games and other issues would also be under discussion.

On Thursday (tomorrow), a meeting with the federations would also be held to discuss medal chances of Pakistan in various disciplines in the South Asian Games and the preparation for the purpose. Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Director General Dr Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera would also attend the meeting.

The South Asian Games are to be held in the Indian cities of Guwahati and Shillong from February 6-16.

Pakistan may field a contingent of over 500 athletes and officials. The contingent will also be finalised during the meetings.

The POA elections would also come under consideration. The POA has decided to hold elections on January 23. It has instructed the provinces to conduct their own elections.

Punjab Olympic Association held its elections this month.

The general council would be briefed by the POA about the agreement reached between IOC/OCA and the POA and Maj Gen Akram Sahi, Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) president.

As per the agreement, federations of judo, athletics, netball and cycling are likely to be re-admitted into the Olympic fold.

The POA official said that they had no knowledge whether Sahi group had withdrawn the cases against them or not. As per the agreement, Sahi group will have to withdraw all the cases filed in various courts against the POA.

The first clause of the agreement has already been implemented as Sahi group handed over keys of the Olympic House to POA a few days ago in the presence of IOC and OCA observers.