The 9th South Asian Federation (SAF) Games-2004, a multi-sports showpiece encompassing the South Asian region, will be launched in an atmosphere of bubbling goodwill on Monday amidst strictest-ever security and with an Olympics-style opening ceremony.
Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali will declare the 15-discipline SAF Games open at the Jinnah Stadium, Pakistan Sports Complex, that is all set to turn into a sea of colours, pomp and pageantry during the 150 minutes opening gala starting at 7:30pm.
President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali in their separate messages highlighted the importance of the event in the backdrop of recently concluded Saarc summit in Islamabad and the contribution the sports could make in promoting goodwill and friendliness between the eight participating states, which could go a long way in making mutual understanding and tolerance flourish in an atmosphere of healthy competition.
The President has said that holding of the SAF Games will pave the way for strengthening friendship and harmony among the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (Saarc) member countries.
The Prime Minister in his message said the present Muslim League government has given fresh impetus to the peace process, and "I hope that, on their part, the SAF Games will add a bright new chapter to this ongoing process".
Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali said that the sportsmen from the eight countries don't have to be told that winning of hearts is more important than winning the medals.
"If there is a lesson to be learnt from the past, it is that the world troubled by grave economic and social problems and international strife and enmity, has become more than ever conscious of the value of peace and amity.
That is why the South Asia Federation (SAF), a gathering of eight nations, asks its members to rise above their differences and disagreements and join hands and come together as caring neighbours on a platform of peace and friendship," he added.
Those who will be taking part in various events of these games know that through a spirit of camaraderie they will be promoting peace and fellowship among more than a billion people of South Asia, Prime Minister Jamali said. He wished all the participating teams the best of luck and a happy stay in Islamabad.
The competitions amongst seven South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (Saarc) countries, plus Afghanistan, at venues scattered in and around Islamabad, will roll off on Tuesday and will continue till April 6, to be followed a day later with a closing ceremony designed to be equally spectacular and scheduled to be graced by President General Pervez Musharraf. As to who will actually light the torch remains a closely guarded secret.
It could be anyone of the four former athletes who will enter the Jinnah Stadium after a torch relay starting from the Parade Ground, Islamabad.
First scheduled to be held here on October 6-15, the 9th edition was thrice postponed due to varying factors before Pakistan, or rather Islamabad, regained the hosting rights a fourth time, thanks largely to the efforts of a tireless organising team headed by Lieutenant General Syed Arif Hasan.
The designers, one of them famed Richard Curzon of Australia, have envisioned the opening gala in a way as to combine the laser lights and use of other modern gadgets with innovative depiction of South Asian culture in a bid to cut impression with spectators at over 45,000-capacity Jinnah Stadium and a much larger TV audience.
The full-dress rehearsal on Saturday night gave rise to the expectations that this opening ceremony will prove to be the most successful "after-dusk" affair for a multi-sports event at least at the South Asian level.
Curzon helped prepare a portion of Sydney 2000 Olympics ceremonies and his contribution here may result in matching that event with music, folk dances, laser show, acrobatics and lastly the spectacular fireworks at sightseeing spots like Daman-e-Koh and Rawal Lake expected to enthral the audience.
Pakistan Rangers have been called in to help police maintain security necessary for an event like this while soldiers will stand by as the Rs 600 million show goes on.
"It is essentially a goodwill event in changing scenario," India's Secretary of Sports, Rajiv Srivasta, said on Sunday on arrival here with 181 strong second batch of Indian contingent.
In the actual arena, Pakistan and India will be the chief rivals in most disciplines while Sri Lanka, and also Nepal, will be force to reckon with.
Bangladesh may defend its football title while countries like Afghanistan, Maldives and Bhutan will struggle to win even a single gold medal. Pakistan may fare far better than their fourth position at the 8th SAF Games.
India was far ahead of the rest of the pack at Kathmandu in September 1999, taking top spot on the medals table with 102 gold medals, followed by Nepal (31), Sri Lanka (16) and Pakistan (10).
Pakistan is likely to improve upon their performance at Kathmandu in disciplines like weightlifting, boxing and wrestling - all men's disciplines.
India, and also Sri Lanka, will have definite edge in discipline in which women also figure - athletics, swimming, shooting, badminton, table tennis, squash.
Taekwondo and karate will also have women's disciplines but Nepal is expected to dominate these sports, both for men and women, as it did at home in 1999.
The majority of venues are situated within Pakistan Sports Complex where competitions in athletics, swimming, volleyball, shooting, badminton, table tennis, boxing, squash and final stage of football will be held. The competitions in karate, taekwondo and kabaddi will be staged at Army Sports Complex, Rawalpindi, rowing at Rawal Lake, Islamabad, weightlifting at Community Centre, Aabpara, Islamabad, and wrestling at Wah Cant.
Peshawar held its lone fixture on Sunday, a Pakistan-Afghanistan clash in the football tournament which started earlier due to higher number of games involved.
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.