Balochistan’s government has requested a one-week delay to the start of the 34th edition of the National Games that were originally scheduled to begin on May 15 in Quetta. The request has been forwarded to the concerned authorities and the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA).
The government of Balochistan and other stakeholders want the Games to start on May 22 or around that time to allow athletes and officials from Punjab to cast their vote or show support to their preferred candidates during the elections in Punjab, which are scheduled to be held on May 14.
The POA has called for an Executive Committee meeting on April 11 to discuss, among other things, the request to delay the Games for another week. The POA delegation, which includes various officials, is already in Quetta holding talks with all stakeholders on the security measures and arrangements being made for the Games. Security has been placed on the top of the agenda for the 34th National Games with the POA delegation getting all the assurance for a trouble-free arrangement and up to the mark security for the mega event.
The 34th National Games will feature 32 sports to be contested in Quetta, including archery, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, bodybuilding, boxing, cycling, football, golf, gymnastics, handball, hockey, judo, kabaddi, karate, rugby, rowing, sailing, shooting, squash, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, tug of war, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, wushu, and fencing. The nine-day Games will be the first in recent times to be held in Quetta and will see over three thousand athletes competing. The organisers are taking security as one of the main priorities for the Games, and all efforts are being made to provide the best possible competition atmosphere for athletes and fans alike.
Courtesy The News
