Provincial Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar announced the organization of First Summer Games 2024 from May 28 (Tuesday) at a crowded press conference held at the National Hockey Stadium on Monday.
Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Muzaffar Khan Sial, Director General Sports Punjab Pervez Iqbal and other officials were also present on this occasion.
Addressing the press conference, Provincial Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar informed that around 500 players will participate in the Inter-Divisional competitions of three games - volleyball, hockey and kabaddi during the Summer Games. “The volleyball matches will be played from May 28 to 30, hockey competitions will be held from June 4 to June 6 while the kabaddi competitions will be held from June 12 to 14 at different venues of Nishtar Park Sports Complex”.
Provincial Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar further informed that about Rs 25 lakh will be distributed among the top position holders of all the above mentioned three games. “Each player and official of the winning team will be given 30 thousand rupees while 15 thousand rupees will be awarded to each player and officials of the runner-up team”.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that our professional teams will be present in the competitions of Summer Games to keep an eye on the performance of players. “The best players of the event will be provided multiple facilities under the Sports Endowment Fund”.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar informed that we are likely to hold the South Asian Games after 20 years in February next year. “19 out of 27 sports disciplines in the South Asian Games will be held in Lahore while 14 games will be conducted by Sports Department Punjab. Talks are underway with PCB regarding South Asian Games and the South Asian Games will be organized by consulting with the PCB on security issues,” he added.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar further said that under the annual development programme we will provide sports facilities in those areas which were deprived from such sports facilities in the past. “Working on Players Development is under way as per Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s Khelta Punjab vision”.
He said that the work of the squash complex was stopped for two decades but it will be completed in the shortest possible time. “We will try to conduct inter-provincial competitions between parliamentarians of all the provinces. Besides this, Punjab Leagues will also be organized in which 16 sports competitions will be conducted,” he added.