PM unveils Afro-Asian Games mascot

By Our Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI, AUG. 5. The official mascot of the inaugural Afro- Asian Games, Sheroo the lion, was unveiled by the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, at a simple ceremony here at Vigyan Bhavan on Sunday.

Sheroo, a brightly coloured lion in hues of yellow and orange, and dressed in white T-shirt and black jogger shoes, was presented to the nation, which is hosting the Games in the Capital from November 3 to 11.

Mr. Vajpayee shook hands with the Sheroo and even teased its tail as he bestowed the mascot to the Afro-Asian Games Organising Committee (AAGOC), headed by the Chairperson, Ms. Uma Bharti and the Working Chairman, Mr. Suresh Kalmadi, who is also the President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

Extolling the AAGOC for the choice of Sheroo as the games mascot, Mr. Vajpayee described it as apt as lion was found both in Asia and in Africa.

``Needless to say, the lion is the most majestic of animals in the world and well known for its regal bearing, strength and speed, which are synonymous with achieving excellence in sports, and for which it is much celebrated in literature and lore of the world over,'' Mr. Vajpayee said.

Exhorting the youth to drive inspiration from the games, Mr. Vajpayee said that it was time young men and women helpd to improve both India's sports standards and expand the infrastructure.

``The competition will naturally be very exciting. However, the excitement should translate into encouragement and inspiration for out youth so that in future we also produce world-beaters in many sports disciplines,'' Mr. Vajpayee said. ``The games should help create a greater sports consciousness.''

The Prime Minister said that the Afro-Asian Games would also serve as a testing ground for the Indian athletes and sportpersons for the next year's Asian Games in Pusan and Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

He said that the Indian athletes would have a major responsibility as they would not just represent the country but the Asian continent.

Mr. Vajpayee hoped that the athletes would prepare hard at the ongoing coaching camps, and give their best to win laurels in the games.

There will be eight medal sports, athletics, swimming, hockey (men and women), football, boxing, shooting, tennis and weightlifting, at the Afro-Asian Games. The AAGOC has decided to exhibit Indian sports, kho-kho and kabbadi, as demonstration sports.

The games, which will finally open in November after several postponements over the last decade, were given a green signal by the Prime Minister in April this year only after the IOA and the Sports Ministry resolved the differences over the organising of the games. And, Mr. Vajpayee rightly mentioned it on Sunday.

``I compliment the IOA and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports which have jointly agreed to organise the event. Your combined hard work should result in our honoured foreign guests finding New Delhi a fitting venue for hosting such an important international sports competition,'' Mr. Vajpayee said.

``This kind of partnership between the Government and professional sports bodies will certainly result in proper management of the games,'' the Prime Minister said.

In her opening address, Ms. Uma Bharti, Union Sports Minister, described the Games as a path-breaking event. Saying India had again taken lead in introducing new concepts, Ms. Bharti compared it with New Delhi hosting the inaugural 1951 Asian Games, which had become only second to the Olympic Games in terms of participation and organisation.

``It would be no exaggeration to say that the first Afro-Asian Games, which had been on the back burner for a long time are taking shape only because of the initiative taken by the Prime Minister,'' Ms. Bharti said.

With the renovation and upgradation of infrastructure at various stadia on full swing despite lack of funds, the AAGOC was also battling with the inadequate publicity for the games.

To spread the word about the games across the two continents, the AAGOC on Sunday launched a publicity campaign under the name Operation Sheroo. Ms. Bharti said that all possible mediums would be tapped to create awareness about the games.

The IOA President, Mr. Kalmadi, who returned from Edmonton, Canada, which is currently hosting the World Athletics Championships, said that he had invited the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, Mr. Jacques Rogge, for the opening ceremony of the Afro-Asian Games. The IOC chief was also in Edmonton to witness the world championship.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Previous : 'Bhatnagar's death will not affect Bofors trial'