Tuesday, 24 June
Athletes from several countries spontaneously gathered for a photograph following the Opening Ceremony of the Golden Jubilee Games. Photo: Rahim Khoja (Hakim Sons)
There were no borders in sight early Tuesday morning, as athletes gathered for the Opening Ceremony. Excitement and energy filled the room: athletes from Afghanistan and Uganda joined together to play raas, the USA and Canada teams exchanged country flags and the participants from India and Pakistan sang and danced together.
Despite a chilly and damp morning, the spirit of the crowd was exuberant as they cheered a parade of 1 200 athletes and coaches from 27 different countries participating in the Games. Lively and breathtaking performances from Sarakasi Trust Band and the Aga Khan Junior Academy kept the crowd cheering.
As the Kenyan and Ismaili flags were raised, accompanied by the National Anthem of Kenya and the Nashid al-Imamah, the entire stadium stood at attention. It was a particularly emotional and poignant moment that left very few dry eyes in the audience.
Immediately after the Opening Ceremony, teams dispersed for their first official day of sport competition, including the highly anticipated cricket game between Canada and Kenya. Others took in an afternoon excursion to visit Aga Khan Development Network institutions, featuring a special visit to the Nation Media Group.
In the evening, Stone City was enveloped in an elegant and cozy atmosphere for a show titled Love and Devotion. It featured music, song and dance from across the world that shared a common theme of expressing love and devotion. Highlights of the evening included performances by the Aga Khan Education Service Choir, renowned Qawwali artist Rasik Bairagi and members of the Syrian Jamat participating in the Games.
As the evening drew to a close, participants returned to their residences to prepare for a full day of sports competitions tomorrow.
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