An elaborate Pakistani contingent has left to take part in a non-event
It was a time of great upheaval. The Soviets were in Afghanistan while Pakistan was in the grip of General Zia. And it was during this period, some 25 years ago, that the first Islamic Games were held in Azmir, Turkey, in 1980. Pakistan was part of that inaugural event and we competed in five disciplines that included athletics, tennis, volleyball and wrestling.
The Azmir Islamic Games was not recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as it was against the Olympic charter that forbids any sort of discrimination on the basis of race, religion and not allowing women participation. Subsequently the performance and records established in the Azmir Islamic Games were not recognized by the IOC and the games could not be staged a second time.
Now, more than two decades later, with the financial backing of the Saudi Arabian government, the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF) is holding the second Islamic Solidarity Games, in four different venues — Taif, Jeddah, Mecca and Madina — from April 8. The inaugural ceremony will be held in Jeddah and there would be no women events.
The Islamic Solidarity Games are expected to be participated by most of the over 50 member countries of the OIC. But the games will not get any international recognition, particularly from the IOC as well as from the Asian Games Federation and the Commonwealth Games. What use then of such an event?
Nevertheless, Iran too is planning to hold its own Islamic Games; women will take part in the proceedings, but their proceedings will be held in segregation, away from the men. But these games as well won’t be recognized by the international community. Here too, Pakistan will be taking part in different disciplines. In fact, they are so hyped up that the POA president, Lt-Gen Arif Hasan said recently in a press statement that Pakistan may bid for holding the next Islamic Solidarity Games!
Instead of streamlining the Pakistan Olympic Association and making it play a more affective and positive role for the promotion of sports, it will come as an unnecessary financial burden on the people of the country if we were to simply bid for the games.
Pakistan already has to bear a huge cost in organizing the SAF Games, whenever our time to do so, comes. And apart from the cost, there are misappropriation of funds as well.
According to press reports published on March 27, the Accountant General of Pakistan has found that the management was involved in financial irregularities of Rs201 million. This is a serious issue and those involved should be taken to task.
In case Pakistan successfully bids for the next Islamic Games, the POA will no doubt seek funding from Islamabad and we will have to generate millions of rupees for the games, not recognized by the IOC, the AGF an the Commonwealth.
During the current games, the hosts, the Saudis, are providing 30 days of free accommodation to the competing Muslim countries. Competitors will get $40 per day for 20 days. If these figures are correct, then Pakistan is expected to save Rs7.2 million as part of its 144-member squad.
Islamabad has already spent a considerable sum in the training and preparation of its for the unrecognized Islamic Games. If any athlete betters an Asian, world, Olympic and Commonwealth record, it will be very frustrating for him that his record will go unrecognized. It is a serious matter and the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation should look into this vital issue and evolve a formula that would be acceptable to the IOC and other regional federations.
Pakistan will be competing in athletics, basketball, football, handball, swimming, volleyball, karate, table tennis, tennis, Taekwondo.
An elaborate Pakistani contingent has left to take part in a non-event 
