With six months to go before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games, Pakistani Olympians and Paralympians started the countdown to the event at an exhibition football match held at the British High Commission on Thursday.
A team of Pakistani sports journalists played against a team comprising of British, Brazilian and Chinese diplomats in the match sponsored by VISA. The international team represented the previous, current and next hosts of the summer Olympic Games. British High Commissioner Adam Thomson presented a shield to the winning team of Pakistani journalists and medals to members of both the teams.
Many high profile Pakistani athletes attended the event, including Mudassar Baig, the Gold medalist of 400-M Race in Asian Para Games 2010 at China, and Haider Ali, the Long Jump Gold medalist at the Asian Para Games 2010 at China, alongside the Pakistani Olympic Association President Lt Gen. (Retd) Syed Arif Hasan, His Excellency the Brazilian Ambassador Alfredo Leoni and the Chinese Embassy representatives. As hosts of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the UK sponsored the traditional Olympic Truce Resolution, titled ‘Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal’, at the United Nations in October 2010. The UK will be working with Pakistan and the UN Security Council in support of this resolution calling for a global six-week truce during the next summer’s Olympic Games
Thomson, while commenting on the event’s success, said: “With only six months to go until the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the United Kingdom is very proud of the story we have to tell about the preparations for the Games. We are ready to welcome the world. We are proud to be a diverse, open and tolerant country. We have invited the world to London and the UK, but we are proud that already much of the world, including thousands of UK-Pakistanis, is already represented in London and the UK. He added that the Olympics were more than just a great spectacle. Programmes run globally by the British Council were working with young people to connect them to the inspirational power of the Games to inspire them to choose sports.
The ambassador stated: “There are so many strong connections between Pakistan and the UK, and anyone following the Second Test in Abu Dhabi, will understand that sports is one of these. I wish the Pakistani athletes the best of luck in their preparations over the next six months. The 2012 Games are set to be a landmark international event for 2012 and I know Pakistan will want to play their part in this.” Visa Pakistan Country Manager Amer Pasha said: “Visa has been a worldwide partner for the Olympics movement since 1986 and has made it possible for many countries to participate in the prestigious event by providing crucial support. We have also developed an array of programs to teach the world about the history, values and ideals of the Olympic Movement and today we are proud to be associated with the British High commission for today’s match and would like to extend our cooperation for the upcoming events as well.”
Rawalpindi-Islamabad Sports Journalists Association Chairman Abdul Mohi Shah said: “As a journalist who covered three previous Olympics I am eagerly looking forward to the start of the 2012 Olympics as it not only promises thrilling competition, but also provides the opportunity to people traveling from around the globe to see sports returning to its roots. With the countdown already started the British High Commission’s endeavour to celebrate the occasion in company of local sports journalists would help generate more interest and increase their knowledge about the British Olympics plan to make the mega show a memorable one.”
