May 22, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 16, 1429

LAHORE, May 21: In order to promote sports in educational institutions, the Punjab Olympic Association (POA) has decided on holding the inter-school games here from Oct 17 to 19.

While announcing this decision after the general body meeting, President POA Syed Shahid Ali told reporters that the members had shown their concern over the lack of sports activities at the school-level and the decision of holding the games at the educational level would pave the way in grooming the sporting talent at the grass-root level.

When asked whether a three-day inter-school event would be enough for the hundreds of schools in Punjab, Shahid was of the opinion that it was still the beginning after all and after generating further funds the Punjab Olympic Association would be in a better position to have the duration of the games extended.

The disciplines for both boys and girls included in the games are athletics, badminton, basketball, netball, baseball, softball, swimming, football and table tennis.

An inter-collegiate games event would follow the school games.

“We will be carrying on the activity by holding inter-collegiate games from Oct 24,” the president added.

The inter-collegiate games would include athletics, badminton, basketball, hockey, swimming, table tennis and volleyball competitions.

The Punjab Olympic Association president to a question also clarified that the school event had no connection with the already-introduced Chief Minister Cup inter-school games.

“Though we will be holding the games thanks to the cooperation of the Punjab Sports Department, it is our own idea,” he said.