01 February 2004	Sunday	09 Zilhaj 1424

RAWALPINDI, Jan 31: Peshawar, where South Africa and New Zealand had refused to play cricket last year, will stage some preliminary football matches of next month's 9th SAF Games.

Lt. Gen Syed Arif Hasan, chairman of the Games organizing committee made the announcement following an executive committee meeting of the South Asian Sports Federation (SASF) on Saturday.

"We have decided to allot some games to Peshawar but the exact number of matches will be decided later," Arif said.

The ordnance town of Wah had earlier been given the right to stage the wrestling competitions. There are a total of 15 disciplines in the Games due to open on March 29.

Muhammad Yahya, the director technical of the organizing committee said that the matches in Peshawar will be played before the official opening of the Games.

The meeting attended by delegates of all participating countries except for Nepal, agreed to a constitutional amendment that would allow for a sponsor's name to be associated with the SAF Games title. "Who gets the sponsorship will be decided shortly."

There will be strict dope testing during the Games with all gold winners in individual events undergoing tests, Latif Butt, secretary of Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) said. "In team events testing will be done at random."

Because of internal problems between their ministry and the National Olympic Committee, the house extended a deadline for Nepal from Feb 28 to March 10 to send in their "entry by name." "Those entries will have to have the approval of the International Olympic Committee and Olympic Council of Asia," Butt said.

Raja Randhir Singh, secretary general of the OCA and also the Indian Olympic Association said that they were excited and looking forward to the Games. "We are also planning to organize a vintage car rally from New Delhi to Islamabad to mark the occasion," said Singh who heads a seven-member Indian delegation.

"Our delegation would have been even bigger but one member had to stay back. Our strength shows how keen we are to take part in the Games." Suresh Kalmadi, the president of the IOA had to pull out because of his parliamentary polls campaign.

The meeting was chaired by sports minister Rais Munir Ahmed, who said that sports could bring peace and harmony to the region.

Meanwhile, Arif said that preparations for the Games were virtually complete and only finishing touches were to be given.