LAHORE – Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) President Lt Gen (retd) Syed Arif Hasan says national beach, youth and women games are the salient features of the development plan which the POA will soon unveil to change the fortunate of country’s sports.
Talking to media men here at a local hotel after presiding over Executive Committee meeting of POA, said: “We will make gradual progress through national beach, youth and women games and with the government assistance we will be able to bid for Asian Beach Games and Youth Indoor Games as well while we try to ensure maximum participation of women in the women games in coming future.”  He said POA sports commission led by Aqil Shah has been given the responsibility to launch these events with the cooperation of the POA.
“We have set our sights on a challenging task but are determined to turn it into a reality as we want to change the culture of Pakistan’s sports,” he added.
The elections of the national Olympic committee would be held in a democratic manner, he said and added that he would contest the elections being held in February-March next year as his services for the cause of sports are known to every one.
Every one has right to contest in the POA elections and it’s a good thing that other candidates are also aiming to contest the elections.  He said the executive committee took a number of important decisions related to the development of sports in the country.  “We will be upgrading POA website in a way to make it attractive for sponsors and we are in the process of evolving a system to lure sponsors to cater the ever growing needs of funding POA and national sports federation’s activities,” he asserted.  To a query, he replied: “The strength of Pakistan contingent for next year’s London Olympics has not yet been finalised as hockey is the only discipline which has qualified for the mega event and the POA is awaiting IOC’s decision to allocate the number of wild cards in different disciplines.
“Hopefully, we will get the answer from IOC by March next year on allocation of wild cards after that we will finalise our contingent,” he said.
POA code of ethics is being finalised by the POA Sports Commission after that it would be put before the general council meeting for its final approval, the POA chief concluded.