HYDERABAD, Nov 19: Hyderabad Region Olympic Committee announced on Tuesday that a week-long sports festival will kick off from Saturday at various venues across the district.

Hyderabad Region Olympic Committee secretary general Khurram Rafi Siddiqui told a news conference at the local press club that the ‘Hyderabad Sports Festival 2013’ would start at the Arif Hussain Shaheed Skating Club after an inauguration ceremony.

The games will start from Sunday with the concluding ceremony to be held on Dec 1 at the Board Stadium.

“Thirty different disciplines will be contested at different venues across the district,” Rafi said. “Both male and female athletes will take part.”

The disciplines will be karate, cycling, taekwondo, jujitsu, judo, table tennis, softball, baseball, basketball, gymnastics, tennis, football, arm wrestling, bodybuilding, weightlifting, boxing and badminton amongst others.

The festival will be organised by the Hyderabad Region Olympic Committee after getting approval by the Sindh Olympic Association.

“The festival is aimed at providing youngsters a good, competitive atmosphere through the games and the organising committee [which was formed after a meeting on Tuesday] will incur the expenses.”