LAHORE, June 15: Syed Wajid Ali, former president, Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), died here on Saturday after a protracted illness and was laid to rest at a local graveyard on Sunday.

Born in Lahore on Dec 20, 1911, Wajid Ali held the POA president’s office from March 3, 1978 to March 11, 2004. During his long association with sports and with the International Olympic Association (IOC), Wajid had the distinction of being the honorary IOC member from 1996 till death, member Executive Board IOC (1966 to 1976), Member Coordination and Supervising Committee for IOC/NOC Relations (1967-1968), Member of Information and Culture Commission IOC (1973-1974), Vice Chairman Coordination and Supervising Committee for IOC/NOC Relations (1968-1971), Member Cultural Commission (1980-1981) and Member Financing Commission (1983-1996).

The funeral was attended by a large number of people belonging mainly to sports and industries.