Daily Times

LAHORE: Pakistan received a big honour on Wednesday when Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) President Lt Gen (r) Syed Arif Hasan was elected as the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Vice President for South Asia (2015-2019) for the third time in a row at the 34th General Assembly meeting of the OCA held in the Turkmenistan capital Ashgabat. The OCA is the apex sporting body which controls all the sports in Asia. It is one of the five continental associations recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The OCA was formed in 1982 and has its permanent headquarters in Kuwait. The main objective of the OCA is to develop sport, culture and education of Asian youth as well as to promote international respect, friendship, goodwill and peace through sport. The OCA General Assembly also unanimously re-elected Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah as OCA President for the next term of 2015-2019. Sheikh Ahmad, who was the only candidate for the position as Asia’s Olympic sports leader, was elected by acclamation to continue with the role of President which he first took up in 1991.

The General Assembly reposed confidence in the dynamic and visionary leadership of Sheikh Ahmad, who is also the President of Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC). Sheikh Ahmad is well reputed for his interest, initiatives and contributions in sports. He has undertaken numerous significant sporting positions globally and has been a member of the IOC since 1992 and President of the ANOC since 2012. On the occasion, Sheikh Ahmad spoke of his commitment to keep the unity and solidarity within the OCA, and to create the best environment and conditions for the athletes. He also vowed to keep open the communication channels with other Olympic stakeholders, including the IOC and Asian and International Sports Federations, and focus on youth and technology.

It is pertinent to mention that Arif Hasan has been part of OCA Executive Board for last eight years and his election for the third consecutive time, indeed, is a remarkable achievement and speaks for his marathon efforts, endeavours and commitments for the promotion of Olympic Movement in Pakistan and South Asia. His re-election to this position speaks volumes of his qualities as a good human being and a sport leader. The trust and confidence reposed in him is certainly a great honour and pride for the Olympic fraternity of Pakistan. The re-election of Arif Hasan for the third term in the OCA has also given a loud and clear message to the federal government, the incompetent Pakistan Sports Board and Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) Ministry, who are destroying Pakistan sports with their idiotic decisions, that the controversial National Sports Policy, which was implemented partly in 2005, is impracticable and not recognised by the OCA or the IOC. And it should be done away with forthwith.

According to the existing National Sports Policy, none can contest elections of any sports federation for the third term. This clause of the policy is in contradiction with the guidelines of the IOC. It created problems for the sports sector in 2012 when Arif Hasan won the Presidential election of the National Olympic Committee Pakistan for the third time, defeating Major General (r) Muhammad Akram Sahi. But, taking advantage of the National Sports Policy, Sahi challenged the victory of Arif Hasan. Later on, the PSB helped Sahi to establish a parallel body in the POA. Since then, sports in the country have been suffering as the IOC has refused to acknowledge the Sahi-led POA. The saner elements wants New Sports Policy should be made under the guidelines of the IOC. Earlier this year, the Pakistan government gave official recognition to Arif Hasan-led POA and withdrew support of the unlawful parallel National Olympic Committee after the IOC threatened to suspend Pakistan’s membership from the IOC. The federal government also announced to follow the IOC Charter in letter and spirit. All officials letters issued in recognising the unconstitutional NOC were cancelled by the federal government.

The IOC and the OCA consider any restriction from the government on sports federations and the NOC as interference, and against the IOC Charter. It is no secret that the IOC does not tolerate any government interference in working of its member country as was evident from the attempts by the Indian government to dictate terms to the IOC which resulted in India’s suspension. The Pakistan Olympic Movement remained under a siege for the last three years as a handful of mischievous sports elements with the help of the PSB, IPC Ministry and some federal government officials openly and shamelessly violated the Olympic Charter and never allowed to work the legitimate Arif Hasan-led POA in a cordial manner. The re-election of Arif Hasan in the OCA, no doubt, will give impetus to his re-election for the fourth term in February 2016.