Financial hurdles, Champions Trophy could push South Asian Games towards end of 2025

A proposal from the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) for a Technical Supplementary Grant (TSG) amounting to Rs400m relating to holding of the 14th South Asian Games came under discussion in the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) meeting of the cabinet in Islamabad on Thursday evening.

However, according to a press release, after discussion it was decided that the proposal would be re-submitted to the next ECC with a more holistic plan with proper cost estimates of logistical details and plans for meeting the estimated expenditure through various sources, including sponsorships, commercial advertising, and estimated funding from the government.

In the press release, April has been mentioned as month for hosting the South Asian Games which is not the case.

Nukta understands that the Games are unlikely to take place early next year.

The Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) has also delivered its message to the South Asian Olympic Council (SAOC) member states, during its officials’ recent visit to New Delhi where they attended the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) moot, that due to the ICC Champions Trophy the Games cannot be hosted early next year.

The POA officials had told the SAOC nations that the Games should be delayed until the end of next year. Sources close to the development had told Nukta that POA officials also told them Pakistan would hold a meeting for them in November this year as Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games have also been postponed.

Nukta understands that the SAOC delegation will inspect the venues and other facilities and then the Games timeline will be decided.

IPC is also expected to endorse the Games postponement until the end of next year.

“We are trying to hold the 14th South Asian Games in Pakistan but exact schedule is not yet in sight as things are in the negotiation phase,” an IPC official told Nukta last week.

“We have been working on the matter for the last one year. We are trying our level best but you know the economic situation of the country. If we say that Games will be held hundred percent in a certain time-frame then it is not the case yet,” the official clarified.

Asked whether the event may be delayed until the end of next year the official said “obviously” they will also propose to take them to the next financial year.

A whopping budget of Rs7b has already been allocated for the region’s major spectacle which Pakistan will be hosting after two decades since it last hosted it in 2004 in Islamabad.

Pakistan had also hosted the Games in 1989, also in the federal capital.

The 14th South Asian Games will be held in Lahore and Islamabad while Faisalabad will host handball.