2024 South Asian Games

The 2024 South Asian Games, officially the XIV South Asian Games, will be a major multi-sport event which will be held in Pakistan,and will have Lahore, the capital of Punjab province as main host city.[1][2][3] The cities of Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Islamabad and Sialkot will give support to Lahore hosting some sports.[4][5][6] The Games were scheduled to be held in March 2023,[7] but later postponed to March 2024 by SAOC members at the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) conference in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.[8][9] This will mark the third time that Pakistan has hosted the South Asian Games since 1989 and 2004, and the first time that Pakistan has hosted the event outside of Islamabad.

XIV South Asian Games
Logo of Asian Games
Host cityLahore
CountryPakistan
Nations7

Host selection

In 2019, the Sri Lankan Ministry of Sports announced that Sri Lanka had bid in a partnership with the Maldives. However, Pakistan was announced as host by the South Asian Olympic Council in December 2019.[10][11] On 10 December, POA President Arif Hassan received the games flag.[12][13]

Development and preparation

Venues and infrastructure

It was reported that the Government of Pakistan designated around Rs 2 billion for infrastructure.[14] In July 2020, it was announced that the federal government had set forth more than Rs 3.5 billion for the South Asian Games.[15]

The Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) wants to base these Games in Lahore while holding selected sports in other cities which are hubs within the country for each one. Gujranwala is being considered for weightlifting and wrestling competitions while Sialkot and Narowal for volleyball.[16] Faisalabad is under consideration for handball while along with it, Gojra is under consideration for field hockey.[16] Kasur may also be one of the venues.[16] It was also reported that the POA intends to organise the football competition in Karachi, Sindh.[16] In May 2020, Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, expressed hosting events at a gymnasium, despite not being a host city.[17] Syed Aqil Shah, President of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Olympic Association requested that the POA should include Peshawar as one of the host cities for the Games.[18]

“We will place athletes in these sports in these cities which are about two hours away by road from Lahore,” Hasan, Vice President of Olympic Council of Asia added. Pakistan has hosted the South Asian Games twice before – in 2004 and 1989, both times in Islamabad. “We are looking forward to hosting the South Asian Games again. It is our turn and we hope that all countries including India will turn up. We will ensure that security is high and we will be inviting India. I’m very confident that India will accept our invitation".[19]

On 11 January 2021, Prime Minister Imran Khan gave a go-ahead signal to the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) and the Federal Sports Ministry to host the Games.[20] On 15 January 2021, POA President Syed Arif Hasan further said that the venues have almost been finalised and in the next meeting with the federal sports minister on 18 January in Islamabad, several other key decisions would be taken with respect to holding the Games.[21]

On 12 July 2021, it was confirmed that certain sports will be held in other cities including Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Islamabad and Sialkot.[6] On 11 February 2022, it was announced that the government wanted the opening ceremony and closing ceremonies in Islamabad and Lahore, respectively, and for football competitions to be held in Lahore.[22] On 13 February 2022, the government announced plans to hold the event by March 2023 in Lahore, Faisalabad and Islamabad.[23]

The Games

Participating nations

Seven countries are expected to compete.

  •  Bangladesh
  •  Bhutan
  •  India
  •  Maldives
  •  Nepal
  •  Pakistan (Host)
  •  Sri Lanka

Sports

See also

References
  1. "Four POA officials appointed to 2023 South Asian Games working group". www.insidethegames.biz. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  2. Malik, Shahzad (14 January 2021). "South Asian Games moved to March 2023". ARYSports.tv. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  3. "OCA » Pakistan to use four cities to host 2021 South Asian Games". www.ocasia.org. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  4. "POA Hosts South Asian Olympic Council Meeting". UrduPoint. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  5. "14th South Asian Games to be held in Lahore, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Islamabad in March 2023". Daily Times. 14 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  6. "Pakistan Olympic Association". www.nocpakistan.org. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  7. "News - Olympic Council of Asia". www.ocasia.org. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  8. "SAOC decides to postpone SAG until March 2024". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  9. "South Asian Games postponed to 2024". The Edition. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  10. Ranasinghe, Dinushki (14 November 2019). "Sri Lanka bid to bring back SAG after 15 years". ThePapare.com. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  11. "Pakistan To Host 14th SA Games". GoalNepal. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  12. "14th South Asian Games to be held in Lahore, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Islamabad in March 2023". Daily Times. 14 July 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  13. "south asian games 2023 - Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  14. "Hosting the South Asian Games | Sports | thenews.com.pk". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  15. "POA wants 2022 SAG in Lahore and Faisalabad". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  16. "2021 SOUTH ASIAN GAMES: POA wants to hold major events in Punjab". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  17. "Gymnasium in Mardan can host South Asian Games events: Aqil". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  18. "14th South Asian Games: Aqil wants Peshawar as one of host cities". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  19. "OCA » Pakistan to use four cities to host 2021 South Asian Games". ocasia.org. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  20. "Pakistan to host South Asian Games after 16 years". Daily Pakistan Global. 11 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  21. Yaqoob, Mohammad (15 January 2021). "Pakistan to host 2023 SAF Games after prime minister's approval: POA". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  22. "Difficult to conduct SAG by March 2023, says POA chief". www.thenews.com.pk.
  23. "Imperfect preparations | Sports | thenews.com.pk". www.thenews.com.pk.
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