Under the auspices of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Olympic Association, the celebration of Olympic Day in Peshawar this year was marked by strange and surprising actions by the organizers. While the world celebrates this day with grand enthusiasm, drawing large numbers of officials and athletes from various sports, this year’s event in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa fell short of expectations.
Traditionally, Olympic Day is observed with great enthusiasm in Pakistan, featuring a well-organized program. However, this year, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Olympic Association failed to arrange proper celebrations. The responsibility for organizing the event was delegated to the Deputy Secretary of the KP Olympic Association, who is also affiliated with the Badminton Association. The Deputy Secretary quietly arrived at the Peshawar Sports Complex and initiated activities involving boxing, badminton, taekwondo, weightlifting, and a few archery clubs in the stadium.
Children were gathered and sent by the Pakistan Olympic Association, but only 36 shirts were provided, including those for children as young as four and five years old. The children were dressed, photographs were taken, and then the event concluded. This year’s celebration of Olympic Day was reduced to merely taking pictures at a few locations, a stark contrast to previous years.
This situation highlights the current state of the Olympic Association in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The lack of proper arrangements and limited engagement indicate a significant decline in the organization’s effectiveness and dedication to promoting sports and the Olympic spirit in the region.
