The 16th Gulf Cup tournament was inaugurated yesterday with a glamorous opening ceremony at Kuwait Club Stadium in the presence of Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah, the Kuwait Prime Minister. Senior sport officials from the GCC countries also attended the extravaganza witnessed by 25000 spectators.

Sheikh Ahmed Al Fahd Al Sabah, who is also President of the supreme organising committee, gave a speech welcoming the GCC teams and Yemen – who are taking part for the first time.

Sheikh Ahmed said that it's nice to host the tournament immediately after the GCC countries' leaders summit, held in Kuwait only three days before.

Sheikh Ahmed wished all the participating teams a good stay in their 'second home' and hoped for fair play in the tournament's matches.

After that, hundreds of Kuwaiti students participated in the main part of the opening ceremony– "Hope Operetta" which depicted nuggets of the history of each participating country and it's development as also looking a promising future.

Well known singers from the GCC countries and Yemen sing in the Operetta. The opening ceremony lasted for about 90 minutes.

The action proper begins tomorrow with UAE taking on Saudi Arabia and Kuwait hosting Oman in the opening day's fixtures.