The fifth National Winter Games open at the world famous ski resort of Gulmarg on Monday, with the recent heavy snowfall creating right conditions for the five-day event.

About 450 athletes from 18 teams including from ten states would contest for the honours.

The Games will be declared open by the Jammu and Kashmir [Images] chief minister Ghulam [Images] Nabi Azad, with invitees from across the country attending the grand ceremony.

Suresh Kalmadi, president of the Indian Olympic Association will also attend the inaugural function.

The Games torch handed over to Gul Mustaffa, the only winter Olympian of the state by Kalmadi in New Delhi on February 12, reached Srinagar [Images] on Saturday.

The torch was carried to the Winter Games venue at the Gulmarg ski resort on Sunday.

The main events for which the competitions will be held include Alpine Skiing, Cross Country, Figure Skating, Ice Hockey, Snow Rugby, Nordic Skiing etc.

The start gate of the alpine events is at 11000 feet above the sea level and snow mobiles and Gondola is being used to take the players to the start gate.

The competitions begin on Monday, February 18 and conclude on February 22 in the afternoon.

All the competitors have to bring their own gear while the state government and the Winter Games Federation of India have arranged for their free stay because of which all the hotels in the ski resort are fully booked.

Gulmarg is playing host to the National Winter Games for the second time in ten years.

The ski resort has been decked up for the big event with the facilities having been upgraded to make the conduct of the events and stay of guests a memorable experience for all.

A good number of domestic and foreign tourists have reached Gulmarg which is under seven feet thick snow because of the recent heavy snowfall in the region.

"Gulmarg had good snowfall this season and the setting for the fifth National Winter Games is perfect. The ski-slopes are snowladden and waiting for the competitors to exhibit their professional skills," Jammu and Kashmir state tourism secretary Naeem Akhtar told rediff.com.

Photograph: Harish Kotian