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KARACHI: President of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), Lt. Gen (r) Syed Arif Hasan, has said recent visits of foreign teams to the country and hosting of National Games at Peshawar have restored everyone's confidence and the nation now look forward to staging bigger events in the near future.
“The arrival of Palestinian football team for a two-match series and the hosting of National Games in troubled Northern areas signalled the revival of sporting events in the country,” the POA chief told newsmen after inaugurating newly built office of the Sindh Olympic Association (SOA) at the Sindh Sports Board (SSB) sports complex in Nazimabad on Sunday.
He said it's a good step that foreign teams have started coming to Pakistan which will send positive message across the world.
Asked that the Guangzhou Asian Games medallists have not received promised cash awards, the POA chief said he had asked the PSB to settle the remaining fifty percent dues to sportspersons at the earliest.
Referring to employment problem of outstanding sportspersons he said some players have got jobs while a proposal pertaining to creating more such opportunities for stalwarts was waiting ministry's nod.
“Athletes are ambassadors of the country and it was because of their feats that national anthem of Pakistan is played globally,” he remarked.
Yet to another question, he said the POA has submitted a two-year programme to the PSB regarding preparation and participation in international events abroad.
The retired general said by setting-up a well equipped office and refurbishing the SSB sports complex, the SOA has set a precedent for others to follow.
“I'm delighted that SOA which use to be mobile has finally got a permanent office,” he added.
It is pertinent to mention that since the country's coming into being SOA used to function from residences of the successive secretaries.
Accompanied by SOA president, Dr. Mohammad Ali Shah, who is also Sindh Sports Minister, Ms Rehana Saif, EDO Community Development, CDGK, and secretaries of provincial Olympic Associations, the POA president cut the ribbon of the SOA office and went round the facilities.
A sum of Rs1.4 million has been spent on the construction and equipments of the office.
He also inaugurated the brand new air-conditioned coaster which has been recently purchased at a cost of Rs6.1 million.
Dr. Shah told Dawn that an amount of Rs50 million is being spent on the refurbishment of the complex.
He thanked the Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, for doling out the funds for renovation and enhancing the annual sports grant of SOA to Rs10 million. He informed that SOA had a meagre Rs13,500 in its kitty when he took over three years back.
