Islamabad, Pakistan, August 25, 2026: The Executive Committee of the South Asia Olympic Council (SAOC) witnessed the shared heritage of the region on a visit to cultural and religious sites in Islamabad on Monday, August 24.
The SAOC Executive Committee, who were briefed a day earlier by the Pakistan Olympic Association on preparations for the 14th South Asian Games to be held from April 3-11, 2027 in Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar, visited iconic sites in the capital city of Pakistan.
The SAOC delegation, comprising representatives from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, visited Taxila Museum as they explored the remarkable Gandharan heritage of the UNESCO World Heritage property of Taxila, followed by the Gandharan Museum.
The President of the SAOC and POA, Arif Saeed, also accompanied the guests on a visit to the Pakistan Sports Complex where Yawar Hussain, Director General of the Pakistan Sports Board, briefed them on the available sports facilities, infrastructure and preparations being undertaken for the Games next year.
The visits concluded at Faisal Mosque, an iconic symbol of modern Islamic architecture in Islamabad.
The POA posted: “From ancient civilisations to modern Pakistan, the visit reflected the history, diversity and shared heritage that connects South Asia.”
The SAOC Executive Committee had earlier been briefed on the 14th South Asian Games which will feature 28 sports with women competing in 25 of them, and are expected to bring together close to 3,200 athletes across 28 competition venues in the three host cities.
