Colourful balloons floated into the sky. A young man with two prosthetic hooks for legs did handstands and ran across the field. All of Afghanistan's young and determined athletes gathered in one place.

This was the scene today at the official re-opening ceremony of Ghazi Stadium in Kabul.

"Of all the international projects implemented in Afghanistan, this is one of the most popular, it enjoys the support of all Afghans," the president of Afghanistan's National Olympic Committee, Lieutenant General Mohammed Zaher Aghbar, said. "Sport helps societies get together, it will strengthen our national solidarity."

The re-opening of the stadium is one of many boosts for Afghanistan football. Earlier this week, the national team, The Lions of Khorasan, made history by reaching the final of the South Asian Football Federation championship for the first time.

The Lions of Khorasan along with the women's national football team, female and male boxers and other athletes were all present at the ceremony.

The re-opening of the stadium will give Afghan athletes the chance to compete on their own home grounds. The field is being assessed by FIFA, world football's governing body, and it is hoped it will be granted certification allowing international matches to be played officially, Reuters reported.

General Aghbar also said he is trying to line up foreign boxing and soccer teams to come to Ghazi Stadium in early 2012.

Medals were given out during the ceremony to military officials, including General John Allen, the commander of Isaf.

General Allen said he would continue to work with Afghan ministries to increase sports programmes for the young people of Afghanistan.

"We will continue to partner very closely with General Aghbar and other ministries that can help the afghan youth and can help to organise and increase the sports programmes," the Isaf commander said.

Ryan Crocker, the US Ambassador to Afghanistan, said the opening of the stadium and creating other sports programmes all serve as a way to prevent Afghan youths from abusing drugs.

"We have the ministry of narcotics control where we were working closely with the minster and his staff to help develop sports programmes that will give young Afghans an alternative to drugs use," Ambassador Crocker said.

Under the Taliban regime, Ghazi Stadium was used for public executions.