Pakistan Olympic Association

Pakistan Olympic Association
Pakistan Olympic Association logo
Country/Region Pakistan
CodePAK
Created1948; 76 years ago (1948)
Recognized1948
Continental
Association
OCA
HeadquartersLahore, Pakistan
PresidentCapt (R) Syed Muhammad Abid Qadri Gillani[1]
Secretary GeneralMuhammad Khalid Mahmood
Websitenocpakistan.org Edit this at Wikidata

Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), also known as the National Olympic Committee of Pakistan (NOC; Urdu: پاکستان اولمپک ایسوسی ایشن, acronym: POA), is the national Olympic organization in Pakistan.[2] It was established in 1948 to oversee the active participation of the newly independent state at the Olympiad. Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the country's founder and first Governor-General, became the patron-in-chief of the new institution,[3] and Ahmed E.H. Jaffar became its first President.[4]

Over the years, the association has been responsible for fundraising and setting up the management of delegations for the Olympic Games.[5] As an NOC, the association is the first contact point for the International Olympic Committee. Some of its members are also active participants in various management activities at the IOC. Within the country, the association remains the oldest sports body. It was the premier regulator of sports activities in Pakistan from 1948 until the establishment of Pakistan Sports Board in 1962.[6]

The Association continues to develop programmes in co-ordination with its affiliated bodies to promote sports at various levels. It is also responsible for Pakistan's representation at the Commonwealth Games[7] and organising the annual National Games.

  1. ^ Abid Qadri Gillani elected new POA president
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Dawn was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Jinnah, M.A. (1989). Speeches and Statements as Governor-General of Pakistan. Directorate of Films & Publications. Government of Pakistan. p.245
  4. ^ Hussain, S.T. (1949). The Pakistan Year Book & Who's Who. Kitabistan. p. 779
  5. ^ National Olympic Committee (Pakistan Olympic Association) on Olympic.org website Retrieved 28 December 2020
  6. ^ Homepage of Pakistan Sports Board Retrieved 28 December 2020
  7. ^ "Pakistan at the Commonwealth Games". Commonwealth Games Federation website. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2019.