27th National Games-98 Peshawar. 1998-4)

National Games are organised throughout the world by each country to promote Olympic Movement in its respective jurisdiction. The concept of Olympic Movement owes its origin to Baron Pierre de Coubertin, when he along with others founded the International Olympic Committee (100) on June 23, 1894.
In order to promote the Olympic Movement and project its high ideals, the NOCs (National Olympic committees) were encouraged to be created in each country who should be fully committed to follow the constitutional principals laid down by the International Olympic Committee. The NOCs are chartered with the responsibilities to participate in the Olympic Games and also promote Olympic Movement in their own countries.
In terms of its philosophy and impact the Olympic Movement by all considerations, is one of the largest movements, in our modern world. As the Olympic Movement progressed over the time, the number of NOCs increased and presently there are 197 NOCs which have joined the Olympic Movement and are recognized by the ICC.
In the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, all the 197 NOCs were represented and there were 10,000 athletes and 5000 team officials who participated in these games.
Since the NOC of each country is committed to promote the Olympic Movement and is also bound to hold its National Games on the pattern of the Olympic Games, the Pakistan Olympic Association was created in 1948. Father of the Nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad All Jinnah Performed the inauguration of the First Pakistan Olympic Games.
In his message to the organizers and the nation, he stated:- “For sound minds we should have sound bodies and that is why nations the world over attach so much importance to sports and physical culture.
The first Pakistan Olympic Games should act as on 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 the best of luck. Build up Pakistan higher, firmer and stronger”.
The message of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah to the nation indicates the importance he attached to sporting activities in the country. During the first National Games, sportsmen, sports-women and officials from all the provinces including East Pakistan took part.
The competitions were held in Athletics, Basketball, Cycling, Volleyball, Weightlifting and Wrestling. The overall Championship was won by the Punjab Olympic Association. A Trophy was donated by Quaid-e-Azam from his private funds which was titled as “QUAID-E-AZAM TROPHY’.
This Trophy continued to be awarded to the best participating Unit in all the subsequent I Games and has become a symbol of prestige.
After a good start in 1948, the National Games in Pakistan were held in the following years:-
S. No. of Year in City in Who Won the National which Games Which Games Quaid-e-Azam Games held held Trophy 1st 1948 Karachi Punjab 2nd 1950 Lahore Services 3rd 1952 Lahore Army 4th 1954 Montgomery No Trophy was Awarded 5th 1955 Dhaka Services 6th 1956 Lahore Army 7th 1958 Peshawar Army 8th 1960 Dhaka Army 9th 1962 Lahore Army 10th 1964 Dhaka Army 11th 1966 Lahore No Trophy was Awarded 12th 1968 Dhaka Railways 13th 1970 Karachi Army 14th 1972 Lahore Railways 15th 1974 Peshawar Army 16th 1976 Karachi Army 17th 1978 Lahore Army 18th 1980 Karachi Army 19th 1982 Peshawar Army 20th 1984 Faisalabad Army 21st 1986 Quetta Army 22nd 1988 Karachi Army 23rd 1990 Peshawar Army 24th 1992 Lahore Army 25th 1995 Quetta Army 26th 1997 Karachi Army
Whereas the programme of the 1St National Games-i 948 included competitions in only 6 sports, the NWFP Olympic Association had the distinction to increase the number of sports disciplines to 26 for the first time during 23rd Pakistan Olympic Games held at Peshawar in 1990, in which all the 11 affiliated Units of the Pakistan Olympic Association participated which included all the four provinces besides Army, Air Force, Navy, Police, Railways, WAPDA and UGC. Since 1990 all the subsequent National Games had almost the same programme.
The present 27th National Games would include competitions in all the sports disciplines recognized by the Pakistan Olympic Association except Equestrian, Skiing and Yachting. These Games are being organized by the NWFP Olympic Association from 22nd to 27th April, 1998.
Courtesy: N .W. F. P. Olympic Association.
To commemorate the occasion Pakistan Post Office is issuing a stamp of Rs. 7/- denomination on 22nd April, 1998.