Pakistan Set to Host South Asian Games Next Year

Pakistan is set to host the 14th South Asian Games from March 23 to 31 next year, with athletes from across South Asia competing in a wide range of sports.

The decision was taken during a high-level meeting of South Asian Olympic countries held on the sidelines of the 46th General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) in Tashkent.

The meeting was chaired by Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck, OCA Vice President for South Asia, and was attended by the Presidents and Secretaries General of the National Olympic Committees of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

Pakistan was represented by Arif Saeed, President of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) and the South Asian Olympic Council (SAOC).

He was joined by Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, Federal Secretary of the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC), who formally conveyed the Government of Pakistan’s firm commitment to hosting the Games successfully.

After detailed deliberations, the South Asian Olympic family authorized the Pakistan Olympic Association and NOC Pakistan to finalize all operational arrangements.

This includes flexibility to adjust the event schedule within a one-week window if required due to logistical or technical reasons.

It was also unanimously agreed that the list of sports disciplines and events will remain unchanged, as finalized during the SAOC Executive Committee Meeting held in Lahore on February 25, 2025.

During the meeting, Federal Secretary Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani assured full government support for the Games. He stated that all participating athletes and officials will be provided maximum facilities, security, and logistical assistance.

He also invited South Asian countries to visit Pakistan in May 2026 to review preparations and further strengthen regional sports cooperation.

The South Asian Games were originally scheduled for March 2023 but were postponed to March 2024 and later to January 2026.

With this latest decision, the Games are now firmly set for March 2027, placing Pakistan back on the regional sporting map and reinforcing its role as a capable and committed host of major international multi-sport events.