Commissioner Lahore and President Punjab Olympic Association (PbOA) Muhammad Amir Jan, Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Ehsan Bhutta and Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi unveiled the trophy of 73rd Punjab Games at the colourful ceremony at Punjab Stadium on Saturday.
Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Ehsan Bhutta and Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi on this occasion handed over the torch of 73rd Punjab Games to Commissioner Lahore Amir Jan to kick start the grand Punjab Games. Commissioner Lahore Amir Jan and other dignitaries also prayed for the successful holding of Punjab Games.
Lahore Qalandar officials also delivered their PSL trophy to Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Ehsan Bhutta and Director General Sports Punjab Tariq Qureshi at the colourful ceremony.
Director Admin Syed Umair Hassan, Secretary Punjab Olympic Association Idris Haider Khawaja, Deputy Director Tariq Wattoo, Assistant Director Zahoor Ahmed, Olympic javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem, District Sports Officer Lahore Tanveer Shah, PRO SBP Abdul Rauf Roofi, Lahore Qalandars’ administrative officials and a large number of sports enthusiasts were also present on this occasion.
Commissioner Lahore Amir Jan, Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Ehsan Bhutta and Director General Sports Punjab M Tariq Qureshi also took a round of Nishtar Park Sports Complex with Punjab Games trophy and torch on Punjab Tourism Department’s sight-seeing Double Decker bus escorted by Punjab Tourism Department’s bike squad and a police mobile van.
Talking to media Commissioner Lahore and President Punjab Olympic Association (PbOA) Muhammad Amir Jan said that holding of Punjab Games after 2019 edition is definitely a great achievement. “It would be a wonderful opportunity for young male and female athletes of the province to display their sports potential in their respective games,” he added.
Commissioner Lahore Amir Jan said it is the first time that all stakeholders including Punjab govt, Sports Board Punjab and all sports associations are on one page for the holding of 73rd edition of Punjab Games. “The credit of this great development goes to Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Ehsan Bhutta and Director General Sports Punjab Tariq Qureshi,” he added.
Commissioner Lahore Amir Jan further said that It is a historic occasion that Sports and Youth Affairs Department Punjab is going to organize the biggest ever Punjab Games in the history of Punjab province. “I’m thankful to Secretary Sports Punjab Ehsan Bhutta and DG Sports Punjab Tariq Qureshi for organizing
the 73rd Punjab Games. It is quite heartening that the tradition of historic Punjab Games is being maintained”.
Commissioner Lahore Amir Jan said that Sports Board Punjab is working hard for the promotion of sports across the province. “As President Punjab Olympic Association, I am satisfied with the arrangements of the Punjab Games,” he added.
Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Ehsan Bhutta on this occasion said that the holding of grand Punjab Games is definitely a historic occasion. “The participation of over 5,500 male and female athletes from all over the province will make it the biggest ever Punjab Games to be staged under the auspices of Sports and Youth Affairs Department Punjab October 24 to 27, 2022,” he informed.
Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Ehsan Bhutta informed that this massive number of athletes including special kids and transgender will exhibit their sports skills in dozens of sports disciplines. “The sports contingents from Sindh, Balochistan, Gilgit Baltistan, AJK, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Islamabad will also participate in the grand Punjab Games”.
Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi while talking to media said that competitions of 30 sports disciplines will be organized during Punjab Games out of which 8 games will be staged only for women. “The presence of Special and para-athletes and transgender will definitely enhance the attraction of Punjab Games,” he stated.
Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi further said that all the relevant departments and stakeholders are on board for the smooth holding of Punjab Games being held in collaboration with Punjab Olympic Association. “These games will play a crucial role in the promotion of sports culture across the province besides finding several talented male and female players belonging to different games”.
Olympic javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem on this occasion said that Sports Board Punjab is taking a nice step to organize the mega Punjab Games at various venues of the provincial capital. “Such events play a key role in providing opportunities for young talented players to move forward. Punjab Games is a suitable platform for young male and female players from across the province to show their talent,” he maintained.
Meanwhile, Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi has signed an MoU with Director General Punjab Food Authority (PFA) Mudassar Riaz Malik at National Hockey Stadium on Friday evening.
Under the MoU, Punjab Food Authority (PFA) will provide top quality food to all athletes and officials participating in 73rd Punjab Games.