South Asian Federation (SAF) Games Chairman Lieutenant General Syed Arif Hassan declared the games as the games of friendship urging the contesting players of eight South Asian states to foster peace and harmony among the brotherly countries.
Renowned squash player and 11-time world champion, Jehangir Khan formally opened the 9th SAF Games by igniting the huge torch.
When the first batch of participating players started their march at the Jinnah Stadium the Islamabad sky was lit up in a myriad of colours. More than 1100 athletes are competing in 15 events including athletics. There were smiles all over with the spectators also joining in the joyous milieu.
About 8000 people including school children participated in the opening ceremony, as Pakistan presented its artistic talent to the entire world in a novel way.
The schoolboys and girls displayed the folk songs and traditional legends marvellously and stunned the spectators.
Pop singers Hadiqa Kiani, Shahzad Roy and music band Strings presented songs of regional friendship and unity. Colourful fireworks display was also part of the programme, which was extremely enjoyed by those present. The trained school students performed the traditional dances of NWFP, Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan.
'Rising above' is the theme of this mega sports event, which Pakistan is hosting for the second time after 1989.