SATV, Kathmandu, Aug. 27 - Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC) President Jeevan Ram Shrestha expressed confidence that the 14th South Asian Games (SAG) will take place on schedule, following repeated delays.
The Executive Committee of the South Asian Olympic Council (SAOC) meeting in Islamabad, set the revised dates for the regional multi-sport event from 3 to 11 April 2027 in Pakistan.
Briefing the media on SOAC meeting Wednesday, Shrestha stated that all member associations had reaffirmed their commitment to hosting the Games."
The fundamental purpose of the Olympic Movement is not merely participation, but fostering friendship, mutual respect, and regional development," Shrestha said.
"Every SAOC member nation remains dedicated to holding the SAG."
Addressing concerns regarding potential disruptions, Shrestha added: "I have been continuously engaged in discussions regarding the Games. I believe the event will be held within the designated timeframe. Other than any unavoidable circumstances arise, the Games will proceed, with participation from all nations, including India."
The regional event has suffered delays since Nepal hosted the 13th edition in 2019.
Initially scheduled for 2021, the Games were sequentially postponed to, March 2023 March, 2024, January 2026, and March 2026 before the current 2027 date was finalised.
Though established as a biennial competition and held every two years between 1987 and 2006, the SAG schedule has grown increasingly irregular over the past two decades. When asked about India's participation given political tensions with host country Pakistan, Shrestha clarified that the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) had consistently committed to attending during council meetings.
Due to diplomatic sensitivities, IOA President PT Usha attended the Islamabad meeting on 23–24 August via video conference. "India's delegation participated online during the Islamabad meeting, whereas they attend in person when meetings are held outside Pakistan," Shrestha explained.
"They have repeatedly reaffirmed their commitment to compete. Therefore, there is no reason to doubt the participation of any member nation."
Shrestha also noted that the NOC is persisting with its proposal to establish a permanent SAOC secretariat in Nepal. "As a neutral venue, Nepal is ideally suited to host the secretariat," he said.
"Furthermore, the presence of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) secretariat in Kathmandu facilitates seamless cooperation among member states."
The meeting also addressed an NOC proposal to schedule the SAG prior to the Asian Games, alongside discussions on structural changes to prevent future disruptions to the event's hosting model.
To oversee operations of SAG, the SAOC decided to form a Coordination Committee chaired by NOC President Shrestha. The panel will feature the Secretaries General of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Bhutan, alongside representatives from the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). This marks the first time in South Asian Games history that such a supervisory body has been established.
The committee will liaise directly with the host nation's NOC and the Government of Pakistan to ensure timely execution and operational success.
The Nepali delegation in Islamabad comprised NOC President Shrestha, Vice-President Chaturananda Raj Vaidya, and National Sports Council Executive Board Member Sikka Suwal Shrestha.
Detailing the technical framework decided in SOAC meeting, NOC Secretary General Rajiv Shrestha said that the 14th SAG will feature 28 sports disciplines, with 25 hosting events for both men and women. Athletes will compete across 346 medal events, vying for 346 gold, 346 silver, and 515 bronze medals. "Preliminary estimates indicate a gathering of 4,191 participants, comprising 3,172 athletes and 1,019 officials," he said.
Events will be staged across three host cities: Islamabad, Lahore, and Peshawar. Islamabad will host 15 disciplines, including Athletics, Football, Basketball, Tennis, Table Tennis, Badminton, Squash, Rowing, Kabaddi, Karate, Shooting, Snooker, Triathlon, Weightlifting, and Wushu.
Lahore will stage 10 disciplines: Boxing, Cricket, Fencing, Golf, Handball, Hockey, Rugby, Swimming, Taekwondo, and Wrestling. Peshawar will host Archery, Judo, and Volleyball. The Opening Ceremony is scheduled to take place at the 50,000-capacity Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad.
