Crown Prince Abdullah inaugurates Islamic Games today
Pakistan Times Sports Desk

MAKKAH: The first ever Islamic Solidarity Games get under way here on Friday with a colourful opening ceremony at the King Abdulaziz Stadium situated at the outskirts of Makkah.

Crown Prince Abdullah will declare the Games open and will also address the gathering. The stadium has a capacity of around twenty five thousand people who would gather from around the Muslim world to watch players of 54 countries in action over the next 13 days.

The stadium was built 17 kilometers away from Makkah only to accommodate non-Muslims who are not allowed inside the holy city. The entry for the ceremony would be free and the organizers have issued special invitations to 9000 people from across the world for the first ever opening ceremony of the Islamic Games.

Although the details of the opening ceremony have been kept secret, the ceremony is expected to project the local and Islamic culture.

The ceremony would get under way at 8.30pm local time and would last till midnight local time. The best part of the ceremony would be the participation of 3000 school children.

They will be seen projecting the history of human culture in nine segments. These children would try to depict how the culture developed over the previous centuries. From illiteracy and savagery to peace and humanity would be the motto of this part of the show.

Due to the withdrawal of a few top teams from the events, around 4,237 athletes would be seen in opening ceremony march-past wearing their national colours. Unlike other international games where the host country comes last in the march-past, here Saudi Arab would be the first team to enter the King Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium.

Pakistan contingent will be seen wearing the green blazers with off-white trouser. Leading tennis player Aisamul Haq, who only reached Saudi Arabia on Thursday, will lead the troupe carrying the national flag while the contingent will be headed by Senator Zafar Iqbal, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Sports and Culture.

At the ceremony, the secretary of Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), Dr Akmaluddin Ogly will be received and introduced to the king by Sultan bin Fahad. After his address the OIC secretary will invite the Crown Prince Abdullah to declare the Games open. The ceremony will be followed by fireworks.

"The laser show would be the highlight of the ceremony as special arrangements have been made in this regard. The fireworks and the laser show would be unique in all respects," Games Director, Dr Saleh Ibn Nassir said.●