The largest-ever 31st National Games began on Saturday with a spectacular and colourful opening ceremony and march past of the participating contingents amid tight security at Qayyum Sports Complex here.
Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Owais Ahmad Ghani was the chief guest on this occasion, who formally declared the five-day games open. Over 5000 players and officials from 15 different units, representing Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Balochistan, FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas), Gilgit-Balitan, High Education Commission, Islamabad, Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Wapda, Pakistan Railways, Punjab, Sind, and host Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will compete in 21 disciplines, including seven for female.
The ceremony started with the recitation of Holy Quran by Qaria Zeenat Mahal. Governor Owais Ghani along with the President of the Pakistan Olympic Association Lt. Gen. (Retd) Arif Hassan, Chairman Organizing Committee Dastagir Khan, Secretary Organizing Committee Zulfiqar Butt, Provincial Ministers KP Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Shujah Khan, Sports Minister Punjab, Balochistan Sports Minister, and Secretary Pakistan Olympic Association Khaliq Khan got a salute from the contingents.
These are the sixth games beingg held in KP. Previously games were held in the province in 1958, 1974, 1982, 1990 and 1998. The march past by the contingents was led by Hockey Olympian Rahimd Khan, was holding Pakistani Flag and the sutdents of Islamia Collegiate grabbed the Olympic Flag. When the contingents were assembling in the ground, crowns, ladies band of GHHS University Town and Lady Graiffth, who got position during the provincial level competitions, were there with the melodious tones passing in front of the dais. They were followed by a military contingent of the Islamia Collegiate.
National Anthem was sung by female students of Agriculture Public School and College. They aslo sang ‘Is Parcham Ke Sai Tale Hum Aik Han’.
When the Governor declared the Games open, the sky gave a multi-coloured look after release of balloons carrying Olympic Flag and inscribed with games slogans “ Sara Pakistan Humara Pakistan” and “Play for Peace” . Pigeons and chandelier were also released.
The Stadium was fully decorated and when the torch bearers entered it they were received with a big sounds of applauses. The torch-holding team was led by former Olympian Qazi Salahuddin, who won a gold medal in Mexico Olympic. He handed over the torch to international Kabaddi player Tahira Khan, who passed it to Ihsan Ullah, who was on a wheel chair and represented Pakistan in Malaysian Paralympics Games in 2005. Then the torch was handed over to Ghulam Noorani, veteran World Champion in Hammer Throw, then to Namatullah (international wrestling), gold medal athlete Bahre Karam and female national cricketer Salma Faiz and then to Asian Games Gold and Silver Medalist Aamir Atlast who lit the Olympic flame.
International Karate players and officials Hasan Ali and Hanif took the oath on behalf of the players and officials. Soon after the oath and with the march back of the contingents, the dolls groups thrrough dances like Kahttak, Chitrali, Mehsud, dances of the four provinces including AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan enthralled the sitting spectators.
The clowns remained present all the time at the venue and the children enjoyed having shaking hands with them. A PT show by the children of the Agriculture Public School was also enjoyed by the spectators. An Army Military Motorcycle show also entralled the audience.