A colourful and vibrant opening ceremony showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Punjab marked the inauguration of the 31st National Games in Ludhiana on Monday. Home Minister L K Advani declared the games open at the packed-to-capacity Guru Nanak stadium, heralding the 12-day sporting extravaganza which is expected to gauge the country`s standard in various sports disciplines. The capacity crowd, many of whom had occupied the galleries since early afternoon, burst into a thunderous applause as Advani declared the games open in the presence of a host of dignitaries. Over 8000 competitors, who will move to various venues in the state, will battle for glory in 27 disciplines in the games which returned to Punjab after a long gap of 45 years. This city, one of the industrial hubs of Punjab, will play host to six events during the games, including the showpiece event of athletics while five other venues -Jalandhar, Patiala, Anandpur Sahib, Chandigarh and Mohali will stage the other events. The much-postponed games, being held at more than one venue for the first time since its inception, will not only give an opportunity for the lesser known participants to make a mark at the national level but will also test the organisational efficiency of the host association. Bureau Report