Date : 18/09/2003
KUN0091 4 GEN 0220 KUWAIT /KUNA-JBD3
SPO-PAKISTAN-SAF
SAF Games rescheduled again in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, Sept 18 (KUNA) -- The thrice postponed South Asian Federation
(SAF) Games will be staged by Pakistan in March-April next year, the South
Asian Sports Federation (SASF) announced in a press statement here Thursday.
"It's a unanimous decision that Pakistan should host the IX SAF Games,"
acting president of the Pakistan Olympic Association Shahid Ali Shah said in
the statement adding, "It's a great honor for Pakistan to host these Games as
the feast of sports not only provide healthy competition but help promote
friendly relations among the SAARC countries".
The biennial games are participated in by members of the seven-nation South
Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) which groups Pakistan,
India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Bhutan.
SASF last year also included Afghanistan in the SAF Games fold. The
ill-fated games were originally scheduled for Islamabad in October 2001 but
were postponed over security fears after the September 11 terror attacks in
the United States.
They were then rescheduled for March 2002 but were again postponed due to
border tensions between Pakistan and India and in March this year Pakistan was
forced to cancel the event due to the war in Iraq. (end)
amn.rk
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