ISLAMABAD, March 29: A blaze of colour and pageantry marked the start of the 9th SAF Games on Monday at the Jinnah Stadium ending months of anxiety for the organizers.

When fireworks lit up the Islamabad sky and the athletes from the eight participating nations marched in, the organisers couldn't help smile and rightly so, it was a momentous occasion for them.

These were the Games that never looked like taking place and had to be postponed three times for varying reasons. But history was put on the backburner as Islamabad celebrated what was indeed its finest hour.

After President Gen Pervez Musharraf declared the Games open, a fireworks display and balloons covered the skies above in a myriad of colours while laser lights below added to the spectacle.

In a ceremony that may not have matched Bangkok 98 or Busan 2002, a close second spot wouldn't be an exaggeration as Pakistan showcased its talents to the world in what was clearly an impressive display.

Watched by an estimated 50,000 spectators inside the stadium with millions witnessing the show live on television, the opening was a sight to behold with the honour of lighting the flame going to the lengedary squash champion Jahangir Khan, a record 10-time winner of the British Open.

Everything was executed with precision with even the minutest of details not being overlooked as the visiting athletes and officials of the eight competing nations were led into the stadium by a group of flag-waving children.

Afghanistan, included in the family of the South Asian Sports Federation (SASF) only last year were the first ones to march in followed by teams of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the host nation whose flag-bearer was Muhammad Akram, the Asian Games gold medallist in rowing.

As the teams lined up after the march-past, boys and girls of local colleges sang the welcome song amidst generous applause from the crowd that seemed to go wild when heartthrob Hadiqa Kiyani, the 'Boohay Barian' girl came in to perform.

The athletes and officials on the field danced merrily to her song titled "It's a new day'. The theme song of the SAF Games has been written by prominent poet Jamiluddin Aali.

Also among the performers was the popular band Strings, Shahzad Roy and Najam Sheraz whose songs also earned appreciation. For the first time in the history of this regional event, college students sang the Federation hymn.

The most breathtaking part of the show were the eight skydivers of the Special Services Group (SSG) of the Pakistan Army who landed right on the mark inside the stadium, each carrying the flag of the competing nations.

Lt. Gen Syed Arif Hasan, chairman of the Games Organising Committee said that three years ago his team had embarked on a journey. "Little did we know that it was going to take us so long to get to the destination," he said referring to the three postponements that occurred along the way.

He praised Sri Lanka's gesture of allowing Pakistan to host the Games despite being allotted the event in 2003. "We will remember their gesture long after the Games are over."

The postponements came about first, because of the US-led invasion of Afghanistan following 9/11, second when Pakistani and Indian troops sat eyeball-to-eyeball over Kashmir before pulling back from the brink and third, when the Americans attacked Iraq last year.

The ceremony featured hoisting of the SASF flag that was carried in by former players Qaiser Mustafa (volleyball), Muhammad Younis (athletics), Hon Capt (Retd) Faiz Muhammad (wrestling), Syed Abrar Hussain Shah (boxing), Javed Iqbal (badminton) and Ghulam Abbas (athletics).

The torch meanwhile was brought in to the cheers of the crowd by Mirza Khan (athletics) who then passed it on to another prominent athlete Shabana Akhtar followed by Abdus Samad Mir before being handed over to Jahangir.

Children, men and women in colourful costumes performed traditional dances of the four provinces but what the ceremony lacked was the involvement of the Games mascots Bholu, the brown Himalayan bear and Sassi, the blind Indus dolphin.