History of National Games
The father of the Nation Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had a great love for sports and fully released the vital role it played in the development of Nations and inculcation of discipline among the masses.
In a meeting with the Organizing Committee of the First Pakistan Olympic Games held at Karachi the Quaid-i-Azam said to the first President of Pakistan Olympic Association Mr. Ahmed E.H. Jaffar : |
|
"Dedicate yourself to sports promotion, for when you and I are gone, leadership will go into the hands of Youth, and Youth is our wealth, a raw material, that must be hammered into shape, into burnished steel to strive and smite in defence - the defence of the integrity and solidarity of Pakistan - the defence of the ideology of Pakistan."
|
|
|
Quaid-i-Azam with the members of the First Pakistan Olympic Association 1948
|
The first National Games were held at Polo Ground, Karachi from 23rd to 25th April, 1948. Sportsmen and officials from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and all the integrated Provincial units of West Pakistan took part in these Games. The total number of athletes was 140. No competitors were, however, invited from any foreign country. Competitions were held in Track and Field, Basketball, Boxing, Cycling, Volleyball, Weightlifting and Wrestling.
On April 23, 1948 our beloved Father of the Nation drove - in - state, to declare the Games open. Quaid-i-Azam gave the following message on the occasion:-
|
Quaid-i-Azam declares the 1st Pakistan
National Games open
|
"For sound minds we should have sound bodies and that is why nations the world over attach so much importance to bodybuilding and physical culture, The Pakistan Olympic Games should set an incentive to all Pakistan Nationals to emulate the Olympic Motto "CITIUS, ALTIUS, FORTIUS" i.e. "FASTER, HIGHER AND STRONGER". I wish the organizers of the Games and all competitors of the Games and all competitors the best luck, Build up Pakistan Higher, Firmer and Strong". |
|
|
The overall championship was won by the Punjab contingent. The Quaid-i-Azam donated a "Challenge Shield" from his private funds which bears his illustrious name.
|
|
Quaid-i-Azam Trophy
|
|
Quaid-i-Azam's philosophy about Pakistan Youth, is expressed most forcefully in a letter he sent to the late Mr. M. A. Khaliq, the Organizing Secretary of the First Pakistan Olympic Games in May, 1948.
|
|
"Well, we have crossed hurdles and breasted the tape at the 'Wining Post', this the people say in smugness. I maintain that we have only run the first lap of marathon relay race. I have passed the baton to others to dash on from lap to lap, determined and dedicated, United and Disciplined, with faith in themselves and God".
|
|
Your race to destiny, shall be calculatingly cluttered wit obstacles, and if you have Unity, Faith and Discipline, nothing will ever stop you from becoming sturdy and strong. Strength alone is an effective deterrent to aggression.
Build leadership on the play fields, and try to become good followers. Remember no one can ever command, who does not learn how to obey. Be a builder. Build for others.
Pakistan National Games are the most prestigious event of our National Sports Calendar which are organized under the aegis of Pakistan Olympic Association biennually in rotation in collaboration with the respective Provincial Olympic Associations and Provincial Governments. In these Games all the affiliated units of Pakistan Olympic Association take part. |
|
|
top of page
Result of previous National Games
Year |
Venue |
Winner |
Runner-up |
1948 |
Karachi |
Punjab |
aa |
1950 |
Lahore |
Services |
aa |
1952 |
Lahore |
Services |
aa |
1954 |
Sahiwal |
Not trophy was awarded |
aa |
1955 |
Dhaka (formerly East Pak) |
Services |
aa |
1956 |
Lahore |
Pakistan Army |
|
1958 |
Peshawar |
Pakistan Army |
aa |
1960 |
Dhaka (formerly East Pak) |
Pakistan Army |
aa |
1962 |
Lahore |
Pakistan Army |
aa |
1964 |
Dhaka (formerly East Pak) |
Pakistan Army |
aa |
1966 |
Lahore |
aaa |
aa |
1968 |
Dhaka (formerly East Pak) |
aaa |
aa |
1970 |
Karachi |
Pakistan Army |
aa |
1972 |
Lahore |
Pakistan Army |
aa |
1974 |
Peshawar |
Pakistan Army |
aa |
1976 |
Karachi |
Pakistan Army |
aa |
1978 |
Lahore |
Pakistan Army |
Pakistan Railways |
1980 |
Karachi |
Pakistan Army |
Sindh |
1982 |
Peshawar |
Pakistan Army |
Punjab |
1984 |
Faisalabad |
Pakistan Army |
Punjab |
1986 |
Quetta |
Pakistan Army |
Punjab |
1988 |
Karachi |
Pakistan Army |
Punjab |
1990 |
Peshawar |
Pakistan Army |
Punjab |
1992 |
Lahore |
Pakistan Army |
Punjab |
1995 |
Quetta |
Pakistan Army |
WAPDA |
1996 |
Karachi |
Pakistan Army |
WAPDA |
1998 |
Peshawar |
Pakistan Army |
WAPDA |
2001 |
Lahore |
Pakistan Army |
WAPDA |
2004 |
Quetta |
Pakistan Army |
WAPDA |
2007 |
Karachi |
Pakistan Army |
WAPDA |
2010 |
Peshawar |
Pakistan Army |
WAPDA |
top of page
31st National Games
Opening Ceremony
Pakistan’s 31st National Games were inaugurated amidst a colourful opening ceremony at Peshawar’s Qayyum Stadium on December 25, 2010. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Mr. Owais Ahmed Ghani opened the Games, which will conclude on December 31, 2010.
Over 7000 players and officials from 15 different units, representing Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Balochistan, FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas), Gilgit-Balitan, High Education Commission, Islamabad, Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Wapda, Pakistan Railways, Punjab, Sindh, and host Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will compete in 21 disciplines, including seven for female.
The ceremony started with the recitation of Holy Quran by Qaria Zeenat Mahal. Governor Owais Ghani along with the President of the Pakistan Olympic Association Lt. Gen. (Retd) Arif Hassan, Chairman Organizing Committee Dastagir Khan, Secretary Organizing Committee Zulfiqar Butt, Provincial Ministers KP Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Shujah Khan, Sports Minister Punjab, Balochistan Sports Minister, and Secretary Pakistan Olympic Association Khaliq Khan got a salute from the contingents.
These are the sixth games being held in KP. Previously games were held in the province in 1958, 1974, 1982, 1990 and 1998. The march past by the contingents was led by Hockey Olympian Rahim Khan, was holding Pakistani Flag and the students of Islamia Collegiate grabbed the Olympic Flag.
When the Governor declared the Games open, the sky gave a multi-coloured look after release of balloons carrying Olympic Flag and inscribed with games slogans “ Sara Pakistan Humara Pakistan” and “Play for Peace” . Pigeons and chandelier were also released.
The torch-holding team was led by former Olympian Qazi Salahuddin, who won a gold medal in Mexico Olympic. He handed over the torch to international Kabaddi player Tahira Khan, who passed it to Ihsan Ullah, who was on a wheel chair and represented Pakistan in Malaysian Paraolympics Games in 2005. Then the torch was handed over to Ghulam Noorani, veteran World Champion in Hammer Throw, then to Namatullah (international wrestling), gold medal athlete Bahre Karam and female national cricketer Salma Faiz and then to Asian Games Gold and Silver Medalist Aamir Atlas.
International Karate players and officials Hasan Ali and Hanif took the oath on behalf of the players and officials. Soon after the oath and with the march back of the contingents, the dolls groups through dances like Khattak, Chitrali, Mehsud, dances of the four provinces including AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan entertained the sitting spectators.
Closing Ceremony
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti was Chief Guest at the closing ceremony. He awarded the winner trophy of 31st National Games to Brig. Iqtidr Naseer Ahmed, Director, Army Sports Directorate. The runner-up trophy was collected by Mr. Khalid Mahmood, Director General, Wapda Sports Board. The fair play trophy was awarded to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which was received by Dr. Shahhjehan, Chef-de-Mission of the Contingent.
The Chief Guest also awarded souvenirs to swimmer Kiran Khan of Army who won 13 gold medals and Mariam Babar of Wapda who made new national record in triple jump.
Senior Minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour, Provincial Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Minister for Health Syed Zahir Ali Shah, Senator Afrasyab Khattak, Sports Minister Syed Aqil Shah, Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) President Lt. Gen. (Retd) Syed Arif Hassan, POA Secretary General Abdul Khaliq Khan and the representative of different national sports federations nd the KP Olympic Association were present on the occasion.
The points & medals table of 31st National Games is as under:-
S.No. |
Unit |
Points |
Medals |
Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
1 |
Army |
4275 |
110 |
74 |
35 |
219 |
2 |
WAPDA |
3599 |
87 |
56 |
58 |
201 |
3 |
Navy |
1239 |
11 |
18 |
18 |
47 |
4 |
Punjab |
1017 |
1 |
17 |
34 |
52 |
5 |
PAF |
835 |
2 |
9 |
22 |
33 |
6 |
Sindh |
820 |
4 |
14 |
29 |
47 |
7 |
KP |
726 |
2 |
3 |
24 |
29 |
8 |
Railways |
649 |
4 |
13 |
32 |
49 |
9 |
Police |
637 |
2 |
7 |
18 |
27 |
10 |
HEC |
599 |
5 |
12 |
11 |
28 |
11 |
Balochistan |
507 |
3 |
6 |
17 |
26 |
12 |
Islamabad |
405 |
0 |
2 |
10 |
12 |
|
top of page
|
