After years of delays and uncertainty, the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) has officially confirmed the dates for the 14th South Asian Games, which will now be held from January 23 to 31, 2026 in Lahore, Faisalabad, and Islamabad. The decision was finalized during the South Asian Olympic Council’s (SAOC) Executive Committee meeting, held in Lahore on Tuesday.
The meeting, chaired by Arif Saeed, President of the SAOC and the National Olympic Committee (NOC) Pakistan, was attended by representatives from all South Asian nations. Delegates from Maldives, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka were present in person, while a representative from India joined via video link.
In a press release, the POA highlighted the productive discussions and collective commitment of the South Asian NOCs to fostering regional sports development.
“The Executive Committee of the South Asia Olympic Council (SAOC) concluded a highly productive meeting today at Lahore, marking significant progress in preparations for the 14th South Asian Games, which will be held from 23rd to 31st January 2026 in Lahore, Faisalabad, and Islamabad,” the statement read.
The meeting also emphasized the importance of sports in promoting peace and unity in the region, citing the achievements of athletes like Arshad Nadeem (Pakistan) and Neeraj Chopra (India), who brought global attention to South Asia by winning medals in the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The SAOC has approved 27 sports disciplines for the games, including popular events like cricket, hockey, football, athletics, and swimming. The full list of sports includes:
The Technical Handbooks for each sport will be prepared and released by March 31, 2025, subject to approval from the respective Asian Federations.
The SAOC also announced the formation of a committee to review and update its constitution, aligning it with the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Constitution.
Federal Secretary of the Sports Ministry, Zahoor Ahmed Chaudhry, who also attended the meeting, emphasized the importance of the games in promoting sports development in Pakistan.
As preparations continue, all eyes will be on Pakistan to deliver a successful and memorable edition of the South Asian Games.