Olympic Games Sydney 2000
Date of Issue (September 20, 2000)
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan came into being in 1947 after independence with the withdrawal of Great Britain from its Indian Empire. Its area is 801,400 square km. with a population of 117,490,000 (in 1991). The capital of Pakistan is Islamabad. The languages are Urdu, English (both official), Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtu Baluchi and Brahvi. The religions are Sunni Muslims 77% and Shiite Muslims 23%.
The Pakistan Olympic Association was founded in 1947 and recognised by the International Olympic Committee the same year. Pakistani players first competed at the London Olympic Games in 1948. They did not attend the 1980 Moscow Games. They have not yet competed at the Olympic Winter Games.
The Olympic history of Pakistan does not start in 1948, as Pakistanis were part of the all-Indian delegations before, and mainly were players in the field hockey team. Pakistan owes almost its entire Olympic success to one sport - field hockey. They'won a medal in this sport at every celebration from 1956 through 1984, fourth in 1948 and 1952, fifth in 1988, and again third in 1992. In 1960 they won the gold medal, defeating India in the final and ending its 20 year Olympic wining streak. They again won the gold medal in 1968 and 1988.