YOUNG skier Mohammad Karim will proudly carry the national flag as Pakistan’s sole representative at the Winter Olympic Games, which kick off today in Sochi, Russia. Karim is only the second Pakistani athlete to compete in the Winter Games; skier Mohammad Abbas was the first, participating in Vancouver’s Games in 2010. The young skier’s story is an inspiring one, proving that given the opportunity, training and encouragement, this country’s youths can compete in the international arena. Hailing from a village near Naltar in Gilgit-Baltistan, young Karim learned to traverse the slopes using wooden skis made by his uncle. His budding talent for the sport was spotted by the Ski Federation of Pakistan, which helped train the sportsman. From such humble beginnings, the athlete is today vying to do his best in the snows of Sochi. Though bringing home a medal would be tough considering that the world’s best athletes will be competing, qualifying for the Games itself is a major achievement. Pointing to the potential winter sports have in Pakistan, Karim has said that in GB, many of the area’s people are “natural skiers”. But while this country has some of the world’s highest mountains and even though Pakistan’s north receives heavy snowfall, winter sports have failed to become popular.

If winter sports are to be promoted either for recreation or professional competition, the requisite facilities along with government interest are essential. At the moment, Pakistan has two major facilities, at Naltar and Malam Jabba in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Shortage of funds and poor infrastructure are the main reasons why winter sports are not popular. For example, the road from Gilgit to Naltar is in bad shape, making access to the ski facility difficult. If the state supports the promotion of winter sports, and equally importantly, if there is peace in the north, more Pakistani athletes can surely compete in international sporting events.