14th South Asian Games postponed until March 2027
In the high-level meeting of the South Asian Olympic Council (SAOC) it was decided that the Games would be scheduled from March 23-31, 2027.
By Alam Zeb Safi
LAHORE: The 14th South Asian Games have been postponed until March 2027, following a decision taken at a meeting of South Asian countries held on January 26, 2026, on the sidelines of the 46th General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) in Tashkent.
According to a press release of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) after detailed deliberations, the meeting unanimously agreed that the Games shall be scheduled from March 23 to March 31, 2027. The POA as the host National Olympic Committee, was authorised to make adjustments within the same time window, with a flexibility of up to one week, if required for operational or logistical reasons.
The meeting was chaired by Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck, OCA Vice President for South Asia, and was attended by the presidents/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 and the South Asia Olympic Council (SAOC), along with Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, Federal Secretary, Ministry of Sports, Government of Pakistan.
The press statement said that the South Asian Olympic community extended congratulations to Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani on his unanimous election as President of the OCA.
Participants also unanimously reaffirmed that the sports disciplines and events will remain unchanged as finalised at the SAOC Executive Committee meeting held on February 25, 2025, in Lahore, and subsequently circulated to all member countries.
The press release said that the South Asian countries further agreed to initiate additional consultations aimed at developing a more sustainable and future-oriented framework for regional sports cooperation, with a focus on long-term collaboration and the efficient delivery of multi-sport events.
During the meeting Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani invited South Asian countries to visit Pakistan in May 2026 to continue consultations, review and monitor preparations for the South Asian Games, and strengthen regional cooperation in sport.
Earlier the Games were slated to be held from January 23-31, 2026, in three cities including Lahore, Islamabad and Faisalabad.
Pakistan had been allotted the Games during the 2019 Nepal South Asian Games. In the era of PTI as a ruling party former prime minister Imran Khan had given green signal to go for the Games but could not be held due to various reasons. The current regime of PML (N) also failed to conduct the Games in time. However now it is expected that the biennial spectacle will be held next year as Pakistan has got a sufficient time to prepare properly for the Games.
