KARACHI, April 20: The National Games of a country serve as barometer for judging the standard of athletes and capabilities of the organisers. However, the 30th National Games which concluded in the port city last week failed to match the efficiency of the previous six such occasions (1948, 1970, 1976, 1980, 1988 and 1997) on many counts.

The first and foremost thing that needs to be pointed out is the lapse on part of Tabulation Committee of Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) which was responsible for compiling the “final medals/points table” of participating units and they just couldn’t deliver. For the first time in history of National Games, the final medals/points table was not provided and the much talked about “Media Centre” fell well short of its task by failing to give relevant information and final results, specially on the concluding day. The concerned POA officials who stayed in the city for a week on all- expenses-paid visit should be taken to task for failing in their duty in this regard.

Besides such glitches, the athletes suffered heavily due to the ill-timed staging of the games which unfortunately coincided with the start of summer and the temperatures soared beyond 40 degrees. To give an example, the athletics organisers had originally planned the 10,000m (women) long distance race at 11.00am on one of the days but were forced to defer it to 8.00am the next day. The decision definitely averted a few casualties on the track.

One was amazed to see that no arrangements were made for random dope testing in the event despite the alarming rise in usage of banned drugs among Pakistani athletes. It certainly reflects poorly on the POA Medical Commission.

Random dope tests should be made mandatory in the National Games to curb this menace which has pretty much tarnished the image of our sportsmen throughout the world, particularly in Asia.

It would not have been a huge dent on organisers’ pocket had random dope testing been arranged during the Games. University Sains in Malaysia charges US$ 200 for screening and confirmation procedures as per requirement by WADA for in-competition testing. The amount is reduced to US$186 if the test reports are prepared in seven working days or more. But it seems as if this was never a priority for the organisers.

Incidentally, an eye witness told Dawn that he found used syringes in the backyard of PSB Coaching Centre, the venue for games track and field and badminton events which should be an eye-opener for the top brass of Pakistan sports including Lt. Gen Syed Arif Hassan.

Another error of judgement was the selection of People’s Stadium in the south of city as venue for opening and closing ceremonies which left a bad taste in the mouth. It would have been much better had the Hockey Club of Pakistan, the National Stadium or even the UBL Sports Complex been selected. No hype was created whatsoever for the country’s premier sports extravaganza and the publicity banners were only displayed across the city a day before the Games’ commencement.

Besides some boarding-lodging complaints from the athletes, the organisers were also blamed for preparing sketchy schedules for competitions. For instance, Higher Education Commission (HEC) chef-de-mission Talat Khurshed, in an interview, alleged that four of the six women hockey matches of HEC were scheduled at 1.00 pm - under scorching sun – while some other teams were allowed to play their matches in rotation. He also lashed out at the timing of the Games which posed problems for most young athletes who went through their annual examinations at around the same time.

Also, step-motherly treatment was meted out to Sindh athletes of three demonstration sports – canoeing, softball and chess – as they were denied any daily allowance during the event. However, according to insiders, softball later received the money as ‘loan’ despite the fact that no such arrangement is allowed under POA rules. Also, chess was included at the eleventh hour which deprived the best available talent from contesting the discipline.

It is felt by critics and fans alike that the POA president should hold an inquiry as to why basketball was not included in 27 medal sports despite the fact that the elections of Pakistan Amateur Basketball Federation (PABF) were held on October 4 on the orders of Supreme Court and the house was set in order.

The organisers also gave no account of the money which was disbursed to provincial associations in two separate instalments for staging the games. Similarly, no details of sponsorships or the grants released by the Sindh Governor were provided to the media. Besides, the organising committee of the games opted for publishing the official souvenir at the last moment and did a shoddy job by all standards.

Mr. Khalid Rehmani, who received Rs 135,000 for printing 1500 copies of the souvenir, wore three hats at a time during the Games and could not do justice to any of the three assignments. He was not only the treasurer of Sindh contingent but also the organising secretary (tennis) besides being the souvenir’s editor.

The games are now over but it will be in the fitness of things that the audited accounts of Rs70 million be made public at the earliest.