31st National Games Kicked-off on Saturday at Qayyum Stadium, Peshawar

The Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Owais Ahmed Ghani declared open the 31st National Games in a colourful ceremony here at the Qayyum Stadium on Saturday.

The colourful ceremony impressed the athletes and crowd present here having slogan 'Play for Peace'.

Amid tight security in and around the stadium, more than 5,000 players, performers and officials participated in the lively show. The players would contest in 21 disciplines including seven for females. The sports complex has been decorated with colourful ribbons, flowers, balloons, inflatable mascots and pictures of famous players of the country.

Chief Guest Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani also declared the games open. President of the Pakistan Olympic Association Lt Gen (retd) Arif Hassan, Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Chairman Organizing Committee Dastagir Khan, Provincial Ministers Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Shujah Khan, Sports Minister Punjab, Balochistan Sports Minister and Secretary Pakistan Olympic Association Khaliq Khan also graced the occasion.

The ceremony was started with recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by the entrance of Raheem Khan, the former national hockey player holding the National Flag, next were the kids of Islamia Collegiate holding the Olympic flag. The ladies band of GHHS University Town and Lady Graiffth crossed in front of the dais beating drums and received standing ovation from the spectators. A well-prepared military contingent of the Islamia Collegiate School impressed all with brilliant performance.