LAHORE, June 14: Government of Punjab has assured its full support in fielding a contingent of the province in the upcoming 32nd National Games, to be organised under the auspices of POA interim-committee in Islamabad from June 28.

This was disclosed by Khawaja Farooq Saeed, chairman of the Management Committee of Punjab Olympic Association (affiliated with the interim committee of the POA) at a meeting here on Friday.

“Khawaja Farooq informed the meeting that he had already met and discussed in detail the program of finalizing the Punjab Contingent with the Chief Secretary, Govt of Punjab who had very kindly agreed to extend all possible help and facilities to the Management Committee for the forthcoming National Games through the Punjab Sports Board,” stated a press release issued on Friday.

“This meeting was convened to discuss the program of training and coaching of the players of all the sports disciplines which will be contested in the 32nd National Games, to be held in Islamabad from June 28 to July 4.

“Khawaja Farooq, Chairman of the Management Committee, briefed the participants about the steps that have been taken so far by the Interim Committee of the Pakistan Olympic Association for organizing the 32nd National Games,” it further stated.

A total of 25 sports have been included in the 32nd National Games in which a number of female players will also be participating.

The POA headed by Gen (retd) Arif Hasan which is the only Olympic body being recognized by the International Olympic Committee has warned Government of Pakistan not to recognize the POA interim-committee since that will lead to imposition of an IOC ban on the country. However, the federal government has so far chosen to ignore the POA warning.