14th South Asian Games festival ready to be decorated; South Asian Olympic Council meeting in Islamabad
(Report, Asghar Ali Mubarak)
Preparations for the regular and grand organization of the 14th South Asian Games (SAIF Games) to be held in Pakistan in March 2027 have entered the final stages. This mega event is being organized under the beautiful and peace-loving slogan of “Dosti Ke Rishte, Khel Ke Nate” with the aim of promoting love, brotherhood and lasting brotherhood across South Asia through great sports competitions. In this regard, a very important meeting of the Executive Committee of the South Asian Olympic Council (SAOC) is being held in the federal capital on August 23, which will be chaired by Council President Arif Saeed.
A warm welcome to the delegations of Nepal and Maldives;
Foreign guests continue to arrive in Islamabad to participate in this mission of uniting the region and strengthening friendship through sports, where they were given a grand welcome with traditional Pakistani hospitality:
Nepal delegation: Nepal Olympic Committee President Jeevan Ram Shrestha, Vice President Chatura Nand Raj Vaidya and National Sports Council member Sika Suwal Shrestha have arrived in Islamabad.
Maldives delegation: Maldives Olympic Committee President Mohammed Abdul Sattar and Secretary General Tamoh Ahmed Saeed have also arrived in Pakistan to attend the meeting.
Indian delegation: The Indian Olympic Committee delegation will participate in this most important meeting via video link (online) and will be briefed on the arrangements.
Possible details of the opening ceremony
According to sources, preparations are being made to make the opening ceremony to be held at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore the biggest and most memorable event in the history of Pakistan:
Cultural colors and digital show: The ceremony will present the beautiful colors of the culture of all four provinces of Pakistan, including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir. Along with this, the stadium will be lit up through the latest 3D mapping, laser light show and drone show.
March past and torch relay:
Athletes from South Asian countries will march past in their traditional attire. The official torch of the games will be lit by renowned and world-renowned Olympians from Pakistan.
Sports Anthem and Live Performance: The official theme song “Dosti Ke Rishte, Khelo Ke Naate” composed by renowned Pakistani singers will be performed live, symbolizing the unity of the region. Detailed Games Schedule and Venues A total of 27 sports events will be held in the 14th South Asian Games, which have been divided into zones in three major cities of Pakistan: Lahore Zone (Central Hub): Apart from the opening and closing ceremonies, there will be cricket, football, hockey, swimming, badminton, basketball, boxing, judo, karate, taekwondo, kabaddi, rugby, weightlifting, wrestling, fencing, golf and shooting competitions. Islamabad Zone: Athletics, squash, tennis, table tennis, volleyball, badminton, billiards and snooker, and triathlon competitions have been scheduled in the federal capital. Faisalabad Zone: Faisalabad and Rawalpindi Rowing and other indoor sports competitions will be held regularly at suburban venues.
Residential and VIP arrangements for foreign players: The Government of Pakistan has finalized the best arrangements for the comfort of the visiting players and officials:
Selection of five-star hotels:
All five-star hotels in Islamabad, Lahore and Faisalabad are being booked as official partners so that the players can get international standard accommodation. Proximity to sports venues:
The hotels have been selected in such a way that they are at the shortest distance from the respective stadiums and sports complexes so that the players can save travel time.
Special catering and medical facilities: Special halal and health diet menus will be prepared in the hotels according to the tastes of all South Asian countries, while 24-hour medical staff and ambulance service will be available in each hotel.
It should be noted that the Government of Pakistan has approved a budget of Rs 11 billion for these games, under which the work of upgrading the stadiums has been accelerated.
On the instructions of Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, the Ministry of Interior has prepared a foolproof security plan for foreign players and delegations on par with the head of state, which will be monitored live from the Central Command. According to Asghar Ali Mubarak, founder president of the South Asian Sports Journalists Association, these games and this meeting in Islamabad are a major diplomatic achievement for Pakistan in the field of sports, which will prove to be a milestone in further strengthening the “relationship of friendship, sports ties” between South Asian countries.
