The 11th South Asian Games (SAG) began with a dazzling opening ceremony at the Bangabandu National stadium on Friday with thousands of athletes and performers taking part in the three and a half hour programme.
The ceremony began with the march past of about 2000 athletes from eight nations followed by attractive displays by the students from schools and colleges, Army, Police, and tribals from different parts of the country.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the ceremony by releasing a white pigeon, followed by the release of thousands of balloons and pigeons symbolizing peace.
Thousands of students wearing traditional attire danced to the tune of folk and patriotic songs with the display at the gallery depicting the mood by three thousand students of Eden Girls College. The display included 20 different scenes matching the ground activities.
Bangladesh has largest contingent of 332, including 101 female players followed by India with 320 athletes. Bhutan will field the smallest contingent of 49 participants.
Before the opening ceremony, a flag raising ceremony was also conducted at the SAARC fountain near the hotel Pan Pacific Sonaguan where representatives of all the member countries raised their national flag while the National anthem was being played.
The twelve days multi-sports event will see Bhutan participating in five disciplines, archery, boxing, taekwondo, golf and football.
In brief inaugural comments, she said Bangladesh was proud to host the South Asia’s biggest sports event while she welcomed the players.
Bangladesh commandeered the South Asian Nation stage Friday celebrating its third-time role as host with a stunning display of pageantry and pyrotechnics to unrivaled in the games’ history at Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS).
The country welcomed scores of South Asian and Asian sports dignitaries to an opening ceremony watched by nearly 25,000 people at the eye-catching National Stadium and a potential audience of half a billion in the South Asia region. It was depicted as the largest, costliest extravaganza in SA Games history.
The extravaganza is likely to be the largest sporting event in Bangladesh as well as South Asia.
By Dawa T Wangchuk in Dhakha
