The secretary general of the Punjab Olympics Association has created a fresh controversy over the dates of the holding of the National Games. PbOA secretary Khawaja Idris Haider last week announced that the Games will be held on October 21 to 27 in Lahore which are contrary to the dates agreed by PbOA President Syed Shahid Ali in a meeting with the government officials. An official of the Sports Board Punjab said that the PbOA president have the right to announce the dates as agreed by him in the last meeting regarding the organization of the 32nd National Games. The announcement of the dates other than agreed by the PbOA president is a clear indication that the Punjab Olympics is not sincere in working for the development of sports in the province and he (PbOA Secretary) is trying to mince his own meat. It also seems that the Punjab Olympics secretary and its president lacks coordination and are not running on one direction. The official further stated that the Sports Board will also be holding the Punjab Youth Festival 2012 during that period in time and the dates were agreed with Syed Shahid Ali keeping in mind the events of the festival. “Switching dates as agreed would be difficult for the Sports Board as the Punjab Stadium will not be available for the National Games because the stadium will be busy in holding various events of the festival,” he said.
