PESHAWAR:  Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani inaugurated the 31st National Games amid a colorful opening ceremony that was attended by thousands of spectators and participating athletes, all attired in their traditional dresses.

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani who was expected to turn up as chief guest at the inaugural ceremony stayed away from the event due to security reasons, an organizer told Dawn.com.

Police and paramilitary forces had been deployed in and outside the Qayum Sports Complex in Peshawar who remained vigilant throughout the proceedings.

But away from the security cordon and threat of violence, the opening ceremony was a huge success. It featured traditional dances from all provinces of Pakistan, and highlighted especially the culture of KP and its people. The athletes, all displaying the vibrancy of their provinces in their traditional outfits, were a particularly memorable sight.

Earlier, pigeons and colorful balloons were released to mark the games being played under the banner “Play for Peace”. Olympian Rahim Khan paraded with the national flag while Aamir Atlas Khan, national squash champion and 2010 Asian Games gold medalist, lit the Olympic torch. Folk songs and regional dances also featured in the ceremony that lasted for two hours.

That the ceremony was carried out smoothly will come as welcome relief to the local authorities after the Games were postponed twice due to security concerns. However, this time the events at the Games have been reduced from 28 to 21 and the shooting, swimming and football events will be played in Islamabad.

The champion of the 30th National Games held in Karachi in 2007, Pakistan Army will defend its title. Army had grabbed 111 gold medals, 101 silver and 67 silver while  Wapda had stayed second with 3993 points, 88 gold, 54 silver and 83 bronze.

Third position had gone to Sindh province with 1559 points, 14 gold, 25 silvers and 31 bronze medals.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remained 9th.

Peshawar is hosting the Games for the sixth time after 12 years. The provincial capital had first hosted the games in 1958, 1974, 1982, 1990 and 1998.