ISLAMABAD, July 15: The Pakistan contingent to next month's Olympic Games in Athens will be wearing a new uniform which has been approved by the sports minister.

Brig Arif Mahmud Siddiqui, the Director General of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) said on Thursday that the usual steel grey trouser traditionally worn by athletes will be replaced by ones in fawn colour.

The rest of the uniform will remain the same - a green jacket, white shirt, tie and black shoes. Another set of uniform comprising a t-shirt with a green Pakistan star in front and a cream trouser will be worn by athletes during travel only.

The suggestion to change the uniform was first made at a recent meeting of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) in Lahore where it was pointed out that the steel grey pants do not go with a green blazer. Although any change in uniform has to be approved by the executive committee of the PSB, it has been hurriedly cleared by the sports minister, to be ratified later.