| National Games of Pakistan قومی کھیل | |
|---|---|
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Multi-sport event |
| Frequency | Biennial |
| Location | Various |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Years active | 1948–present |
| Established | 1948; 78 years ago (1948) |
| Founder | Quaid-e-Azam |
| Previous event | 2025 |
| Participants | 12,000 |
| Budget | Rs. 697 million(FY 2023–24) |
| Organised by | Pakistan Sports Board,Pakistan Olympic Association |
| Website | www |
TheNational Games of Pakistan is amulti-sport event held inPakistan. It comprises various disciplines in which sportsmen from theprovinces and departments of Pakistan compete against each other. The games are organized byPakistan Sports Board,Pakistan Olympic Association, and the hostprovince.
Pakistan Army have dominated the Games throughout their history, having won 29 of the 35 official editions.Lahore has hosted the Games ten times, more than any other city.
Before theIndependence of Pakistan, the Indian chapter of the Olympic movement was founded in 1924. The founder was Hassan, the first Secretary of the Punjab Olympic Association. Lt. Col. H.L.O. Garrett, vice principal ofGovernment College, Lahore, was the President of the founding body. At the same time, theIndian Olympic Games were organized inDelhi,Calcutta, andLahore, the then capital ofundivided Punjab.[1][2]
The Games were held every two years from 1924 asIndian Olympic Games and were renamed as National Games when they were first held inBombay in 1940.
After the independence of Pakistan, the first National Games were held atPolo Ground,Karachi from 23 to 25 April 1948. The games were organized by Ahmed E.H. Jaffar, the first President of the Pakistan Olympic Association.
Sportsmen and officials fromEast Pakistan (nowBangladesh) and all the integrated Provincial units ofWest Pakistan took part in these Games. The total number of athletes was 140. No competitors were, however, invited from any foreign country. Competitions were held intrack and field, basketball, boxing, cycling, volleyball, weightlifting, and wrestling. The overall championship was won by the Punjab contingent.[3]
The inaugural edition of the National Games was opened by the founder andGovernor-General of Pakistan,Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He donated a "Challenge Shield" from his private funds. The trophy is now named as the "Quaid-i-Azam Trophy", and is awarded to the winning team in every edition.[4][5][6]
The National Games are required to be held once in two years leaving those years in which theOlympic Games andAsian Games are scheduled to be held, depending upon the situation in country. The Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) can allow relaxation from the general rule only in exceptional cases or natural calamity. The duration and the regulation of the National Games is entirely within the jurisdiction of POA.
The games are jointly organized by thePakistan Sports Board, thePakistan Olympic Association, and the provincial government of the host city.
In the 34th edition of the National Games, held inQuetta in 2023, over 6,000 athletes participated in 32 different sports encompassing 57 events.[7][8][9]
Archery(2) (details)
Athletics(2) (details)
Badminton(2) (details)
Baseball(1) (details)
Basketball(2) (details)
Bodybuilding(1) (details)
Boxing(2) (details)
Cycling(2) (details)
Fencing(2) (details)
Field hockey(2) (details)
Football(2) (details)
Golf(2) (details)
Gymnastics(1) (details)
Handball(2) (details)
Judo(2) (details)
Kabaddi(1) (details)
Karate(2) (details)
Rowing(2) (details)
Rugby sevens(2) (details)
Sailing(2) (details)
Shooting(2) (details)
Softball(1) (details)
Squash(2) (details)
Swimming(2) (details)
Taekwondo(2) (details)
Table tennis(2) (details)
Tennis(2) (details)
Tug of war(1) (details)
Volleyball(2) (details)
Weightlifting(2) (details)
Wrestling(1) (details)
Wushu(2) (details)Four exhibition events –futsal,canoeing and kayaking,throwball, andwomen's cricket – were also part of the 2023 edition.[7]
