Pakistan Olympic Association

Infobox Organization
name = Pakistan Olympic Association
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size = 197px
caption = Official logo of the POA


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formation = 1948
type = National Olympic Committee
headquarters = Olympic House, Lahore, Pakistan
membership = 30 sports bodies
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leader_title = President
general = Abdul Khaliq Khan
leader_name = Syed Arif Hasan
key_people =
num_staff =
budget =
website = [http://www.poa.org.pk www.poa.org.pk]

Pakistan Olympic Association (acronym: POA) is the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Pakistan. The association was established in 1948 to oversee the active participation of the newly independent state at the Olympiad. Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the first Governor-General of the country also became the patron-in-chief of the new institution, [Jinnah, M.A. (1989). Speeches and Statements as Governor-General of Pakistan. Directorate of Films & Publications. Government of Pakistan. p.245] whereas Ahmed E.H. Jaffar became its first President.Hussain, S.T. (1949). The Pakistan Year Book & Who's Who. Kitabistan. p. 779] Over the years, the association has been responsible for fundraising and setting up the management of delegations for the Olympic Games. [ [http://www.olympic.org/uk/organisation/noc/noc_uk.asp?noc_initials=PAK International Olympic Committee - Organisation - Structures ] ] 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. [ [http://www.sports.gov.pk/index.htm Introduction to Pakistan Sports Board] . Retrieved on 7 July 2008] The association continues to develop programmes in coordination with its affiliated bodies to promote sports at various levels. It is also responsible for organising the annual National Games event. [ [http://www.sports.gov.pk/SportsPolicy/SportsPolicy.html Revised National Sports Policy 2005] . S.R.O.1249(I)/2005, Article 5d. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of Pakistan. Retrieved on 7 July 2008]

Recognition

After the independence of the country from the British Raj on 14 August 1947, the need was immediately realised to promote the culture of sports within the country and ensure wider participation and recognition at international level. [Qureshi, I.H. (1957). The Pakistani Way of Life. W. Hoinemann.] In this respect, POA was affiliated by the International Olympic Committee in 1948. Subsequently, it also became member of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) respectively. [ [http://www.gtp.gr/TDirectoryDetails.asp?id=48907 Pakistan Olympic Association: GTP Business directory ] ]

Organisation

List of presidents

#Ahmad E. H. Jaffer (from 25-2-49 to 27-2-50).
#Ghulam Muhammad (from 27-2-50 to 5-11-51).
#Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar (from 5-11-51 to 21-8-55).
#Chaudhry Muhammad Ali (from 21-8-55 to Sept 1956).
#H. S. Suhrawardy (from Sept 1956 to 6-3-58).
#Feroz Khan Noon (from 16-3-58 to 16-11-58).
#Lt-Gen Azam Khan (from 16-11-58 to 22-9-63).
#Rana Abdul Hamid Khan (from 22-9-63 to 3-4-72).
#Malik Meraj Khalid (from 3-4-72 to Nov 1977).
#Syed Wajid Ali (from 3-3-78 to 11-3-2004).
#Lt-Gen Syed Arif Hassan (from 11-3-2004 to present)

Memberships

The association controls its memberships through the working of its Affiliation and Constitution Committee (ACC) which is composed of the pronvincial sports bodies and POA officials. [ [http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Sports/05-Jul-2008/POAs-Affiliation-and-Constitution-Committee-to-meet-today POA's Affiliation and Constitution Committee to meet today] . The Nation. Retrieved on 6 July 2008.] Following are the major sports federations and associations affiliated with the POA:

Provincial bodies

* Balochistan Olympic Association
* NWFP Olympic Association
* Punjab Olympic Association
* Sindh Olympic Association

Sports bodies

* Canoe Association of Pakistan
* Pakistan Amateur Athletic Federation
* Pakistan Amateur Boxing Federation
* Pakistan Amateur Handball Federation
* Pakistan Badminton Federation
* Pakistan Baseball & Softball Federation
* Pakistan Cycling Federation
* Pakistan Equestrian Federation
* Pakistan Football Federation
* Pakistan Gymnastics Federation
* Pakistan Hockey Federation
* Pakistan Judo Federation
* Pakistan Rowing Federation
* Pakistan Sailing Federation
* Pakistan Swimming Federation
* Pakistan Table Tennis Federation
* Pakistan Tennis Federation
* Pakistan Wrestling Federation

Notes

See also

* Sport in Pakistan
* Pakistan at the Olympics

External links

* [http://www.poa.org.pk/new/ Official website of the association]