|
|
 |
| Sunday, 31 March 2002 |
 |
|
 |
Sports |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
SAF
Games rescheduled for 2003
ISLAMABAD, March 30 (AFP) - The Ninth South Asian Federation Games (SAF), due to be held in 2002 but blighted by a series of delays in the wake of the September 11 terror attacks on the US have now been postponed until 2003. The SAF's executive committee said Saturday the games would now be held in Pakistan from March 29 until April 7 next year to prevent a clash with a busy 2002 international sporting calendar. "Since a number of international sporting events like the Commonwealth Games, football World Cup and Asian Games are due to held this year the committee decided that the Games will be held next year," media coordinator for the Games Major Yahya Ghaznavi told AFP. The English city of Manchester is to host the Commonwealth Games in July and August this year, Japan and South Korea co-host the football World Cup in May and June while Busan, South Korea is the host for the Asian Games in September. The SAF Games, participated by all seven members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), were originally scheduled in Islamabad in October last year. They were initially postponed in the aftermath of September 11 and the subsequent military action in Afghanistan, which borders Pakistan. The Games were then rescheduled for March-April 2002 but were postponed for a second time as none of the member countries agreed to the dates. "Sri Lanka had the rights to stage the 2003 SAF Games but as a nice gesture Sri Lanka withdrew and would now host the 2005 Games," he said. Delegates from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and host Pakistan participated in the executive committee meeting. India was represented by a three-member delegation led by Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi who also held meetings with Pakistani sports officials in an effort to resume sporting links between the South Asian nuclear rivals. India has severed almost all links with Pakistan, accusing Islamabad of fomenting "terrorism" in the Indian-controlled part of the Himalayan state of Kashmir. Both countries have amassed around 800,000 troops on the border following an attack on the Indian parliament in December, which New Delhi blamed on two Pakistan-based militant groups. "Bangladesh is chosen as the host of 2007 Games," Ghaznavi said. "A permanent SAF Games secretariat would be established in Kathmandu, Nepal in near future." The Games were initiated in 1984 with Kathmandu staging the first meeting. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
