ISLAMABAD, Jan 30: The official postponement Wednesday of the 9th SAF Games for the second time in four months has led to the organisers suffering losses of over Rs 30 million.

Lt. Gen Syed Arif Hasan, chairman of the SAF Games Organising Committee, who made the announcement at a news conference here, said the event was being postponed for an indefinite period. “The new dates would be decided at a meeting of the SASF (South Asian Sports Federation), which will be convened soon.”

The Games, which were to kick off originally from October 6, 2001 were rescheduled for March 30 this year following the September 11 terrorists strikes in the United States.

But Gen Arif said the Games this time were being put back because of the existing tension on the borders. Both Pakistan and India having amassed troops on the frontlines with tension running high.

“I am disappointed that we have to postpone the Games again and I cannot say when would these be held now.”

Arif however said that the SASF executives had assured Pakistan the 9th SAF Games would be held in Islamabad and the Sri Lankans who are to stage the 10th edition in 2003 are willing to delay their own Games.

Talking about the losses suffered because of the postponement, Arif said: “Every dark cloud has a silver lining and our hero card fund-raising scheme is going fine.”

“We had expected to make about Rs 100 million from our schemes but we have been able to raise only half of that amount because of the postponement. However we hope to meet the target once the new dates are decided.”

The general said that the officials manning the SAF Games secretariat would now leave and added that the Games-related camps would also be wound up.