LAHORE, Dec 24: The Pakistan Olympic Association general council has discussed the national sports policy-2001 in detail in a meeting held Monday.

The general council has authorised its president Syed Wajid Ali Shah to form a delegation which will apprise federal sports ministry the concerns of the POA and the national sports federations as well as the complications likely to emerge as a result of the implementation of the sports policy.

The meeting also discussed and approved the participation of Pakistan contingent in the 9th SAF Games to be held in Islamabad from March 30 to April 8, 2001.

Earlier, the Games were scheduled to be held from Oct 6 to 15 but postponed due to the Sept 11 attacks in USA. In view of the new dates of the games, the federations whose sports were included in the programmes of these games were directed to send their fresh entries to the POA, six weeks before the start of the Games so that the consolidated entries could be sent to the Organising Committee.

The director technical of the SAF Games Lt. Col (retd.) Mohammad Yahya also attended the meeting and advised  the federations to ensure that the technical delegates  and international judges/referees be called from the Asian continent as it would be economical in term of their travelling expenses.

The POA secretary general apprised the house that the Organising Committee of the XVII Commonwealth Games which are being held at Manchester from July 25 to Aug 4, 2002 had allotted a quota of 63 persons to Pakistan out of which 56 would be accommodated in the Manchester Main Village and seven persons shooting squad in Bisley Village.

The POA secretary also informed the house about the details of the participation of Pakistan contingent in the 14th Asian Games to be held at Busan, South Korea from Sept 29 to Oct 14. It was decided that subject to the availability of funds maximum participation in all sports should be ensured, keeping in view the past performance in the last Asian Games and prospects of winning medals in the 14th Asian Games.

The house supported the stand taken by the POA for organising the 29th National Games at Quetta, subject to the availability of minimum facilities of one tartan track and one international standard swimming pool.

The house approved the action of the POA president of suspending the Sindh Olympic Association (SOA) on account of violation committed by the provincial association.

The house unanimously elected Professor Dr Nishat Mallick, Patron Medical Commission of the POA as individual member of the POA on account of his valuable contribution to the promotion of sports medicine in Pakistan as well as in Asia and the world.

The house also unanimously decided to urge Pakistan Sports Board to allow recognition of Pakistan Tug of War Federation and the Pakistan Wushu Federation.