LAHORE: The eleventh hour decision of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) to postpone the second edition of the Quaid-i-Azam Inter-provincial Games, which were to be held in Islamabad from May 5 to 9, spread disappointment among athletes, who were attending training camps for the event.

About 400 athletes, both male and female, and their officials were in Lahore attending the camps, which started three days ago for 20 disciplines.

The PSB decided to postpone the Games, without considering financial losses to the national exchequer, following suspension of its director general Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

“We have now asked athletes and their officials to return to their homes as the games have been postponed,” an official of the SBP told Dawn on the condition of anonymity.

He added that huge amount had been spent on setting up the camps and providing food and accommodation to players in Lahore.

“Earlier, we held trials to pick up probables for the camps. About 5,000 players appeared in the trials out of which 300 were shortlisted for camps,” the official said.

“At the moment we are not in a position to disclose the exact amount incurred on the camps, but it is around Rs2 million. The Punjab Sports Board offered buffet to all athletes for the first time,” he further said.

Meanwhile, a female swimmer, Asifa Tariq, while returning back to her home in Gujranwala, showed disappointment saying it would have been her first trip to Islamabad had the Games taken place.

“There are less opportunities for sportspersons in the country and such decisions cause resentment,” a footballer from Vehari, Zeeshan Ahmad, said.

Meanwhile, Dawn learnt that full payment to contractors for providing kits and other sport gadgets had been made by the PSB.

The total estimate for the gala was Rs190 million, which was a huge amount and questions had been raised on its size.

“If you provide kits, transportation and food to almost 3,000 participants, you need Rs40 to 50 million but this amount can be raised to Rs500 million with the connivance of contractors,” a president of a national sports federation told Dawn on the condition of anonymity.

“There must be a thorough inquiry into the accounts of the PSB as all is not well,” he added.

Federal Minister for Inter-provincial Coordination Riaz Hussain Pirzada tendered his resignation on Friday in protest over Ganjera’s suspension.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2017