POA proposes performance-based grants in sports policy overhaul

LAHORE: The Pakistan Olympic Association has drawn up recommendations for a performance-linked funding system for national sports federations and plans to place them before the government as part of the proposed National Sports Policy 2026.

The initial draft of the policy has already been shared with national sports federations for feedback. Speaking at a press conference in Lahore on Sunday alongside a visiting delegation from the Olympic Council of Asia, POA president Arif Saeed said progress in sports required coordinated work between the state and federations.

Arif said the POA had prepared its proposals using Qatar’s sports funding model as a reference. He welcomed the government’s move to formulate a new policy and said grants should be awarded on the basis of federations’ activity and results rather than individuals.

He said the POA would recommend placing federations in A, B and C categories according to the scale and standard of their work. According to Arif, some federations hold only one senior and one junior national championship in a year, which he said was insufficient, adding that funding should reflect both activity levels and performance.

He also said the weaknesses in Pakistan’s sports structure could not be blamed on the government alone, stating that some federation office-bearers had also not fulfilled their role effectively. He said the POA’s role was to maintain balance between the government and federations and help build cooperation for sports development.

Referring to a proposal in the draft policy that the federal and provincial governments should earmark two per cent of their development budgets for sports, Arif described it as encouraging. However, he cautioned that similar recommendations in other sectors had not always been implemented fully.

He also underlined the need for regular youth games to identify and develop talent. Citing recent cricket examples, he said players emerging from the Under-19 structure had moved straight into the national side, arguing that sustained youth competitions could improve the future of Pakistani sports.

OCA delegation in Lahore for Fun Run

The OCA delegation is in Lahore to supervise activities connected to the Fun Run being held on Monday in connection with the 20th Asian Games, which are scheduled to take place in Japan in September next year.

Arif welcomed the delegation and said a painting competition linked to the Fun Run was held at the POA headquarters on Sunday. He said schoolchildren from across Pakistan took part both in person and virtually. The Fun Run itself is scheduled to be held at Lahore College for Women University.

Head of the visiting delegation Hiroshi Sakai said the event was aimed at promoting the values associated with the Olympic and Asian sports movements.

“The Fun Run is being organised to promote friendship, unity, excellence and healthy living,” Sakai said.

“The initiative aims to engage athletes, students, sports leaders, families and communities across Asia while building excitement and awareness ahead of the Asian Games,” he added.

Other members of the delegation are Azusa Dodo, Anthony Al Tahech and Zahid Hafeez. Sakai praised the arrangements for the event and also appreciated the painting competition for involving young participants through art.

According to the details shared at the press conference, 156 artworks were received and four were shortlisted by a committee that included members of the visiting delegation. The selected works will be sent to the Asian Games organising committee for display during the event.

Pakistan contingent for Asian Games

POA secretary Khalid Mahmood said the Pakistan Sports Board had agreed to sponsor 123 athletes and officials for the Games. He said 23 national sports federations had shown interest in taking part, while some others intended to send teams on a self-finance basis.

Khalid said Pakistan’s overall contingent for the Asian Games was expected to comprise between 235 and 250 athletes and officials. The 20th Asian Games will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, in September next year.