Confusion still reigns over status of SAF Games

July 14, 2003

Pakistani sources are reporting that Pakistan still wants to host the 9th SAF Games.

The Punjab Olympic Association, a regional Olympic Association in Pakistan, has asked the Pakistani government to try and get the games back for Pakistan.

There seems to be some confusion over the status of the games next games, which were awarded to Sri Lanka, and when they are supposed to be held, supposedly in 2005. Sri Lanka seemed to think that they were being awarded the games to be held in 2005. Pakistan seemed to feel that it was the 2003 games that Sri Lanka was supposed to take over, when Pakistan cancelled.

Now that Sri Lanka has made it clear that they intend to host the 2005 Games, Pakistan wants to recoup some of her investment, and hold the 9th SAF Games in Pakistan, possibly in December. One factor cited by the POA is that relations between India and Pakistan are better than they were a few months ago when the games were originally cancelled.

Final Decision on Pakistan's SAF Games

April 10, 2003

The suspense is over. Pakistan will not hold the 2003 South Asian Federation Games. The games, postponed three times, have finally been cancelled.

Colombo, Sri Lanka has been named as host for the next games, scheduled to be held in 2005. 

The games have been trouble for several years. The last successful SAF Games were in 1999 in Kathmandu Nepal, though those games were scheduled for 1997. 

Sri Lanka denies SAF games move

April 9, 2003

Sri Lankan Olympic Committee Officials have denied reports coming from Pakistan that they have been contacted to host the 2003 SAF Games in Colombo.

"I cannot say whether the Pakistan officials have any such idea. But we have not yet been informed of it," said Sri Lanka's NOC Chairman Hemasiri Fernando.

Fernando stated that there was no possibility of Sri Lanka hosting the games on short notice. At least 18 months would be needed to prepare.

Conflicting reports on SAF meetings

April 1, 2003

Conflicting information is coming out of the Pakistan and Indian press regarding the participation of India in meetings, and the dates of the meetings to discuss the future status of the SAF Games.  

Initial reports said that meetings would be held April 1. A report from Pakistan on March 29th stated the "Indian Olympic Association had assured its participation" in meetings to reschedule the games, and those meetings would be also be rescheduled to April 10-11.

On March 30, the day after the story from Pakistan, an Indian paper reported that Indian representatives would not attend the meetings. 

Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi said  "there is no point in attending the meeting under present circumstances." Referring to the war in Iraq.

The games were originally scheduled for October 6 to 15,2001, in Islamabad, but cancelled after the terrorist attacks on the United States. The games were postponed to March 30-April 8, 2002, and then postponed again to March 29-April 7. 

One current option being discussed now is the possibility of moving the games to Sri Lanka, which would be the next host in the SAF Games alphabetic rotation.