Pakistan and Olympism PAKISTAN 803,943 sq. km. 70,260,000 inhabitants (in 1975). - To involve the masses in the field of sport and co-operate with the local organisations in holding sports competitions from village to national levels. - To instil in the youth the qualities of discipline, courage, self-reliance, honesty and tolerance. Creation and development PAKISTAN OLYMPIC ASSOCIATION (POA) Founded in February 1948. Recognised by the IOC in 1948. President in office : Syed Wajid Ali*. Secretary Genera/ in office : Zafar Ali*. Address: Olympic House, Temple Road 2, Lahore. Telephone : 55141. Cable : Pakolympic Lahore. Role of the POA - To assist the national sports federations in obtaining coaches, funds and other requirements. Mr. Zafar Ali*, current Secretary General of the POA, was involved with the birth of the Pakistani Olympic movement in 1948, working together with Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer*, first President of the NOC. The following year, Mr. Jaffer was elected member of the IOC. Though he tendered his resignation in 1956, he continued his sports activities and maintained his ties with Olympic leaders. In the space of a little over thirty years, ten different persons have acted as President of the POA, several of whom were Prime Ministers. First board of the POA PT : Ahmand E. H. Jaffer* ; VPT : prof. A.B.A. Hallen; Hon Sec. : cap. S.A. Hamed ; Asst. Sec : M.A. Khaliq et Adil Khan ; T : Zafar Ali*. In 1959, Mr. Syed Wajid Ali* gained election as the second IOC member in Pakistan. Completely independent, his intellectual authority was undeniable. Much esteemed by his colleagues, he was appointed to the IOC Executive Board in 1966 for a four-year term of office. Mr. Ali later assumed the post of President of the POA in 1978. 369
December 1977: the President of the IOC and Lady Killanin, on a visit to Pakistan, are welcomed by Syed Wajid the left) and Zafar Ali (on the right). IOC members in Pakistan 1. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer*, from 1949 to 1956. 2. Syed Wajid Ali*, since 1959, member of the Executive Board from 1966 to 1970. Succesive Presidents of the POA 25.2.1948 to 27.2.1950 : Ahmed E. H. Jaffer*. 27.2.1950 to 5.11.1951 : Ghulam Mohammad. 5.11.1951 to 21.8.1955 : Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar. PAKISTAN AND THE OLYMPIC GAMES 21.8.1955 to Sept. 1956 : Ch. Mohammad Ali. Sept. 1956 to 16.3.1958 : H. S. Suhrwardy. 16.3.1958 to 16.11.1958 : Malik Feroze Khan Noon. 16.11.1958 to 22.9.1963 : Lt.-Gen. Mou- hammad Azam Khan. 22.9.1963 to 3.4.1972 : Rana Abdul Hamid Khan. 3.4.1972 to Nov. 1977 : Malik Miraj Khalid*. 3.3.1978 to-date : Syed Wajid Ali*. 1976 - Montreal: The Pakistan delegation. Date of first participation : 1948. Olympic Games held since that time, though no national delegation has ever Pakistani athletes have taken part in all competed in the Winter Games. 370
Representation of Pakistan at the Olympic Games from 1948 to 1980 1 1976 1980 2 2 2 1 The figures in brackets represent the number of women included in the first figure. Not included on the programme. x Sport Included in the programme but in which no event was contested 2 Demonstration sport. 371
Pakistani Olympic Champions * The names in heavy print indicate that the champion in question is mentioned again later on. * We would like to thank any reader in advance who can help us complete this table and give us news of all the Olympic champions of the past. Name First name Sport Rashid Ahmad Atlf Rasul Khan Kldl Alam HamId Waheed Ahmad Ullah Ahmad Dar Aslam Hussaln Dar Aziz Anwar Ahmed Akhtar Hussain Ashfaq Rashld Mahk Butt Riaz Nlazl Abdul Bashir Manzur Hussam Ghulam Anwar Ahmad Habib Ali Noor Abdul Abdul Nasir Mutih Mushtaq Munir Ahmad Kurshid Zakir Tanvir Ahmad Tariq Saeed Riaz Bulrez Khalid Mahmood Mohammad Abdul Mohammad Asad Jahangir Ahmad ud Din Tariq Hockey Abdul Rashid, Olympic champion in 1960 and 1968 Pakistan has scored brilliant successes in the hockey competitions and has placed among the medallists at every celebration of the Olympiad since 1956, earning gold medals-in.1960 and 1968, Organisation of Games silver medals in 1956. and a bronze in 1976. The 1978 edition of the Asian Games Of particular note is the fact that hockey was due to be held in lslamabad but player Andul Rashid was a member of these plans had to be abandoned. the 1960, 1968, 1972 and 1976 teams. Also worthy of mention is the bronze medal earned by wrestler Mohammad Bashir at the 1960 Olympic Games in the 74 kg. category of freestyle wrestling. 372
Mohammad Bashir Year Birth 1960 1922 1934 1926 1931 1933 1929 1929 1927 1936 1932 1936 1932 1935 1936 1966 1934 1947 1936 1943 1941 1943 1941 1946 1947 1941 1943 1942 1940 1960 - Rome: Mohammad Bashir dominates the Argentinian Rolon and is awarded the bronze medal. 1968 - Mexico : Victorious team. 373
PRESENT ORGANISATION OF THE POA Present members of the Executive Committee PT: Mr. Syed Wajid Ali* ; VPTs: Dr G. R. Chowdhry, Prof. Anwar Choudhry ; SG: Mr. Zafar Ali*; T: Mr. Muhummad Naqi Butt ; Asst SG : Mr. Obeidullah ; Ms. : the representatives of the national federations of hockey, football, wrestling, boxing, gymnastics, weightlifting, basketball, volleyball, swimming and of the Army Sports Control Committee and the Railway Sports Control Committee. Financing of the POA The POA obtains most of its financial wherewithal from an annual grant accorded by the Pakistan Sports Board, in addition to donations and to monies accruing from membership fees. Federations affiliated to the POA The present statutes were adopted on 16th June 1973. Composition The POA is made up of a President, a number of Vice-Presidents, affiliated national and regional games federations and members of the IOC in Pakistan, who have ex-officio status. The General Council, supreme authority within the Association, meets at least once a year. The POA s officers and executive committee s members are elected every four years. The Executive Council, composed of the NOC s office-bearers, the IOC members in Pakistan and nine representatives of the member-organisations, is to meet at least twice a year. Recognised by Olympic federations... the corresponding IF... 1 Athletics 1962 Rowing 1979 Basketball 1955 Boxing 1954 Cycling 1948 Football 1948 Gymnastics 1958 Hockey 1948 Judo? Wrestling 1956 Swimming 1948 Shooting 1958 Volleyball 1958 Weightlifting 1954... and body-building and kabaddi. 1 The POA was affiliated to the IAAF from 1948 to 1962 Affiliated regional and departmental sports organisations 1. Punjab Olympic Association. 2. Sind Olympic Association. 3. North-West Frontier Province Olympic Association. 4. Baluchistan Olympic Association. 374
5. Pakistan Universities Sports Board. 6. Pakistan Railway. 7. Pakistan Army. 8. Pakistan Navy. 9. Pakistan Air Force. Since 1968, the POA has had its own Olympic House which contains the offices of the NOC and the other Pakistan sports organisations, in addition to a sports centre. SPORT IN PAKISTAN THE POA AND OLYMPISM Olympic awards obtained Olympic Order By Zafar Ali*, recipient of the bronze medal in 1978, a pillar of Pakistanian sports organisation. Olympic day The Pakistani NOC does not yet celebrate an Olympic day, but does organise national games on a biennial basis. As an emerging nation, Pakistan has very limited financial resources, but according to Mr. Zafar Ali, Secretary General of the POA, great efforts have been made to develop sport. At the international level, sportsmen have excelled, particularly in hockey and cricket, and have gained wrestling and boxing medals at various Regional Games. Other Sports Governing Bodies Pakistan Sports Board - an independent body composed of representatives from 375
Within the Olympic International Federations One Pakistan official, since 1976, Prof. Anwar Chowdry, vice-president of the POA, has held the position of Secretary General of the «Association Internationale de Boxe Amateur (AIBA)». Ahmed E.H. Jaffer Anwar Chowdhry BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES Syed Wajid Ali all sports organisations, including the NOC. The Board is responsible for obtaining Government funds to distribute among the various sports bodies and co-ordinating the activities of the many organisations in addition to serving as a forum for discussion between them. Pakistan Army Sports Control Committee. Pakistan Navy Sports Control Committee. Pakistan Air Force Sports Control Committee. Pakistan Railway Sports Control Committee. State aid for the sports movement The Pakistani Government provides regular financial assistance to all Olympic and non-olympic sports organisations, the grants varying in accordance with the activities undertaken by them. Sports which draw the biggest crowds Cricket, hockey, athletics and Kabaddi. Sports experiencing the greatest development Cricket, hockey, athletics and Kabaddi. Percentage of practising sportsmen Estimate place this figure at about 20%. IOC member since 1959, President of the POA since 1978. Born in 1911. he completed studies in Lahore and Simla before serving in the army and eventually joining the family business. As a sportsman, he became involved with shooting, riding and hockey and now serves as President of the Pakistan Amateur Athletic Federation. Mr. Ali s duties with the IOC included a four-year term on the Executive Board and membership on a number of Commissions. A list of accompllshments in the field of public service is also to his credit, including representation on hospital boards and involvement with the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies He achieved considerable success in business as well. occupying a number of important positions with various companies. Mr. Zafar Ali Secretary General of the POA since 1955. Considered the father of sport in Pakistan. Mr. Ali has served his NOC for nearly eight Olympiads. Pnor to his election as Secretary General. this founding member of the POA performed the duties of Treasurer for the Association. Ahmed E. H. Jaffar President of the POA from 1948 to 1950, IOC member from 1949 to 1956. Pakistan s first IOC member led his nation s inaugural Olympic delegation to the Games of the XlVth Olympiad in his capacity as President of the NOC. Though his primary interests were equestrian and polo, he also demonstrated considerable talent in tennis, squash. golf, cricket, rowing, yachting and swimming. Mr. Jaffar was a holder of public office as well, sitting in the Indian parliment prior to the partition of that country in 1947 and then serving as a member of the Pakistani parliament. A heavy load of professional and public commitments obliged him to step down as an IOC member in 1956. Miraj Khalid President of the POA from 1972 to 1978. He made a substantial contribution to the development of Olympism in Pakistan, playing an important role in the involvement of the masses in sport. 376