By Abdul Jabbar Faisal
ISLAMABAD (April 26, 2020):-The six-day SA Athletics Technical Officials Course and Seminar under the auspices of South Asian Athletics Federation (SAF) started yesterday through video link, which was hosted by the Indian Athletics Federation.
On the inaugural day of the seminar, President, Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP), who is also the Chairman of South Asian Athletics Federation (SAAF), Major General (Retd) Mohammad Akram Sahi while addressing the participants through video link said that Corona virus spread all over the world and with its harmful effects.
He said that Corona virus has gripped the entire world to avoid with its harmful effects, stressed the need and importance of the use of technology, saying that the corona virus also hit playgrounds in all countries. He hoped that the world would soon overcome the virus and rehabilitate its playgrounds.
He said that this seminar would promote the sports of athletics in the region. General Akram Sahi also welcomed the participants from all SA countries and thanked them.
President, South Asian Athletics Federation, Dr. Lalit K Bhanot said and hoped that our collective efforts during this difficult time of Corona virus pandemic would help the promotion of Athletics in our region and our technical officials would gain valuable knowledge from the seminar.
Besides, Sports Minister, President Indian Athletics Federation, President World Athletics Federation and President Asian Athletics Association also addressed the participants and stressed the importance and significance of the seminar.
Chairman Technical Committee Asian Athletics Federation, Kwan Kee gave rules of road races and cross country and their interpretation and Dr. Krisztina Hovarth from Hungary, also gave a lecture on medicine and public health.
During the six-day seminar, Chris Cohen from UK, Yukio Seki from Japan, Luca Verrascina from Italy, Pierce O’Callaghan from Ireland besides various international experts and experienced athletes from other countries will give lectures to participants on a various issues, including the rules of the game.
More than 800 technical officials from eight countries are participating in the technical course and seminar including Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh and Nepal.
Ten Pakistani technical officials including eight men and two women are attending the course and seminar namely, Wing Cdr Pervaiz Saeed Mir TI(M), Lt Col Ghulam Shabbir Anjum, Chaudhry Tariq Mehmood Sidhu, Husnain Syed, Tanweer Hussain, Mudassar Hameed , Abdul Majeed, Qalandar Abbas, while women Nabeela Kamran and Humaira Mehmood Khan. The Course and seminar will continue till April 30.
