Olympic Torch illuminates Capital
By Makhdoom Babar

ISLAMABAD,—President Pervez Musharraf has expressed his great pride and happiness over Pakistan playing host to Olympic games alongwith China. Addressing the inaugural of the Olympic Torch Relay event at Islamabad Sports Complex, he hoped that world would glimpse the colors of faith, resolve and harmony, which were trademark of Chinese Nation.
He said that Pakistan welcomed the Olympic flame in accordance with its traditional culture of hospitality and friendship, and fully lauded the strong and everlasting friendship Pakistan and China enjoyed together in all spheres of life. He especially expressed his great joy for being among the children, who were the future of Pakistan and the fact that Chinese friends were also a part of ongoing colorful festivities being held today.
Addressing the colorful event, PM Yousaf Raza Gillani congratulated all volunteers, Pakistan Olympic Committee termed the Olympian torch rally as a journey of friendship, harmony, Global brotherhood and reconciliation, and the relay torch symbolizes that very globalization, and being a representative of a democratic government he vowed to promote games. The Chinese host, president Beijing Olympic Committee, Mr. Chou also paid glowing tributes to the everlasting and strong Pak-China friendship, and expressed his great admiration about the beauty and serenity of Islamabad’s landscape and said that he would forever cherish the warm and tumultuous welcome accorded to him by Pakistani masses.
He expressed his deep and profound thanks to interior ministry, Army administration and commanders for the best ever security measures taken for the event, and vowed to make these moments as colorful and memorable as ever. While fully lauding and endorsing the strong bonds of friendship that exist between Pakistan and China and said that Beijing Olympic Committee and Chinese government eagerly awaited the arrival of Pakistanis at the game event.
He said that China yearned for better and high performance from Pakistani athletes and players to perform much better. Former Olympian Samiullah, who was given the title of flying horse, carried the former Olympic torch while the current torchbearer was accredited to the Global Squash Champion Jehangir Khan, who while addressing the occasion said that although squash was not a part of Olympic criteria, yet he had always aspired to be an Olympian. He also said that squash was a global phenomenon, and its inclusion in the Olympian family would be decided next year.
The Olympic flame witnessed its tenth-stop relay in Sports Complex of Islamabad on Wednesday with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani attending the opening and celebration ceremonies. The colourful ceremony took place behind closed doors at a sports stadium in Islamabad Youngsters waved Pakistani flags and cheered as the flame was brought on a traditional horse-driven chariot. The army band played to herald the arrival of the torch.
“It is indeed a great honour for Pakistan and its capital Islamabad to be included in the torch relay for the Beijing Olympics,” Pakistan Olympic Association chairman Arif Hassan said in a speech. “I welcome the Beijing 2008 Olympic torch relay on its ‘Journey of Harmony’. Let me convey my strong sentiments to Beijing and wish them the best of luck at the Beijing Olympic Games,” said Pervez Musharraf in the opening ceremony.
“We in Islamabad, share the Beijing’s enormous pride as the host of the Olympic Games. I hope the world will witness determination, passion and strength, which are the hallmark of the Chinese nation. I wish them all the best and hope that they will always cherish the memories of their short stay in Pakistan”. Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani also delivered speech in the opening-up.