KARACHI, April 6: This may sound strange but it is a fact that the sprawling city of Karachi, which has a population of 15 million, doesn’t have a single proper Olympic-level stadium which can serve as venue for major sporting events as well as host the opening and closing ceremonies of the National Games.

For the first time the Peoples Stadium, Lyari, has been chosen by the organisers for the purpose where the games open on Monday.

Father of the Nation, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, inaugurated the first Pakistan National Games at formerly Polo Ground in 1948 which were not that well participated.The opening and closing ceremonies of the next two games took place at the Hockey Club of Pakistan in 1970 and 1976. In addition, the track and field events, with the exception of throws, were also held there as it used to have 400m six-lane track. The javelin, hammer and discus throws were held in the ground in front of its main gate where luxury flats stand today.

The opening and closing of the following two games in 1980 and 1988 were conducted at the National Stadium before organisers reverted to HCP in 1997.

Almost six decades have passed since the country’s independence but it sad reflection on things that sports, which create harmony and bring people of different sects closer besides developing healthy minds, is still not enjoying the priority of those who matter.—AZ