Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), also known as the National Olympic Committee of Pakistan (NOC; Urdu: پاکستان اولمپک ایسوسی ایشن, acronym: POA), is the national Olympic organization in Pakistan.[2] It was established in 1948 to oversee the active participation of the newly independent state at the Olympiad. Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the country's founder and first Governor-General, became the patron-in-chief of the new institution,[3] and Ahmed E.H. Jaffar became its first President.[4]
Over the years, the association has been responsible for fundraising and setting up the management of delegations for the Olympic Games.[5] As an NOC, the association is the first contact point for the International Olympic Committee. Some of its members are also active participants in various management activities at the IOC. Within the country, the association remains the oldest sports body. It was the premier regulator of sports activities in Pakistan from 1948 until the establishment of Pakistan Sports Board in 1962.[6]
The Association continues to develop programmes in co-ordination with its affiliated bodies to promote sports at various levels. It is also responsible for Pakistan's representation at the Commonwealth Games[7] and organising the annual National Games.
Recognition
After the independence of the country from the British Raj on 14 August 1947, the need was immediately realised to promote the culture of sports within the country and ensure wider participation and recognition at international level.[8] In this respect, POA was affiliated by the International Olympic Committee in 1948. Subsequently, it also became a member of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).[9]
The association controls its memberships through the working of its Affiliation and Constitution Committee, which is composed of the provincial sports bodies and POA officials.[2] The following are the major sports federations and associations affiliated with the POA:[12]
