Male, Maldives: The official theme song and mascot for the Maldives Beach Games 2011 – the first international tournament ever held in the Maldives – were launched this week at a ceremony at the beach soccer venue in front of Villa College.

The event’s opening act was the introduction of the theme song by Meera Mohamed Majid, Mohamed Shamoon and Naffaan Amir, notching up the tempo to an electric level worthy of the chief guest, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Dr. Mariyam Zulfa.

During the ceremony, Maldives U19 footballers played an exhibition beach soccer match and the Green team won 4-2.

The Maldives’ invitational Beach Games is set to bring 450 athletes and officials from various countries to the shores of the Maldives from September 18-25. The Games will feature a wide range of sports, including Beach Soccer, Beach Volleyball, Kabaddi, Triathlon, Beach Body Building, Surfing, Swimming and Wind Surfing. (www.nocmaldives.org)