The opening ceremony of the Doha 2011, the Arab equivalent of the Olympics, was an extravaganza of fireworks, performances and displays symbolizing peace and prosperity.
The event was held at the Khalifa International Stadium in Qatar, which attracted 40,000 people eager to watch the games that will continue 23 December.
2500 parading athletes, an orchestra of 40 and 700 performers from all over the Gulf took part in a 90 minute show that ended in a stunning display of fireworks.
The show began with members of two medieval Arab tribes pitching their tents in the sand, taking part in poetry competitions and even fighting battles before reconciling their differences and taking the road to peace and prosperity.
The show also saw a young girl, instead of a well known athlete, light the Games cauldron in an act of symbolism, representing the notion that the children are the future.
“Go ahead child, light the flame of your bright future” a man tells the girl before giving the torch to her
Arab singers Ehab Taufiq and Asala Nasri performed songs, before the teams took part in the traditional march.
All the 21 nations could be seen in the parade, led by Jordan and hosts Qatar, with volleyball star Mubarak Eid at the front.
The crowd stood and cheered as they welcomed the parading athletes, who were draped in bright colours and stayed true to the Arabian fashion of such an event.
Each nation was accompanied by legendary athletes from their province, and were escorted by a horseman, a falconer, a placard-bearer or a flag-bearer.
The evening not only highlighted Qatar’s glory in hosting the Arab games for the first time, but it also paid tribute to the Arab traditions and history.
Inspired by the stories and images of both pre-Islamic and Islamic Arab history, Arab symbols such as Arabian horses, poets, camels, falcons and the iconic desert were created at the venue using new technologies.
Jordanian national, Hassan Ali, who visited Qatar for the Games, told Gulf News, “The show had a simple theme but it was elegantly done and we enjoyed it thoroughly.
“The Arab Games are proof that the future is bright. It shows that if we can unite in sports we can also unite in other areas to ensure a better future for ourselves and for future generations.”
The Games are seen as the greatest Arab sporting event in the world and will see participants from 21 countries going head to head with one another in 29 sporting disciplines over 15 days.
The disciplines include football, chess, swimming, golf, archery, shooting, gymnastics and several more.
Egypt are currently favorites to win, heading the leader board with 452 gold medals, while Syria and Morocco follow with 279 and 220 respectively.
The games were created by Adul Rahman Hassan Azzam, the first General Secretary of the Arab League from 1945 to 1952.
He told reporters, “such games amongst Arab nations, could serve the best way to connect the youth of the Arab nations enabling them to build the future of the Arab identity”.
