Pakistan to host 14th South Asian games in March 2027

LAHORE: Pakistan will host the 14th edition of the South Asian Games from March 23 to 31, 2027, following a unanimous decision taken at a meeting of South Asian sports federations held recently in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

According to a press release issued by the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) on Tuesday, the meeting approved the proposed dates for the multi-sport event and authorised the POA, also functioning as NOC Pakistan, to make adjustments within the same time window if required. The schedule may be shifted by up to one week to address operational or logistical considerations.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 46th General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) in the Uzbek capital. It was chaired by HRH Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck, OCA Vice-President for South Asia, and attended by Presidents and Secretaries General of the National Olympic Committees of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

At the start of the meeting, members of the South Asian Olympic family congratulated Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani on his unanimous election as President of the OCA.

Pakistan was represented by Arif Saeed, President of the Pakistan Olympic Association and the South Asia Olympic Council (SAOC), along with Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, Federal Secretary of the Ministry of Sports, Government of Pakistan.

The press release noted that India’s participation in the Games will be subject to approval from its government, which has refrained from sending sports teams to Pakistan in recent years due to ongoing political tensions between the two countries.

It was also agreed that the list of disciplines and events will remain unchanged, as finalised earlier during the SAOC Executive Committee Meeting held in Lahore in February last year.

In addition, the participating countries decided to begin further discussions on creating a more sustainable and future-oriented sports model for South Asia, with an emphasis on long-term regional cooperation and the efficient organisation of multi-sport events.

During the meeting, Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani extended an invitation to South Asian nations to visit Pakistan in May 2026 to review preparations for the Games, continue consultations, and strengthen regional collaboration in sports.

The South Asian Games are considered the region’s premier multi-sport event, and hosting the 2027 edition will mark a significant milestone for Pakistan’s sporting landscape.