Shera stamps a hit amongst athletes at CWG village

The post office at the Commonwealth Games Village is doing brisk business. At the centre of attraction for foreign athletes is the set of Shera postage stamps, selling like hot cakes.

The postal department opened a post office in the International Zone of the Games Village Sep 16 to provide a vend for speed post, registered post, ordinary mail and other services. It also houses a philately section where people can buy stamps.

India Post released four stamps - Shera, Queen's Baton, Talkatora Stadium and Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium - commemorating the Games. Another stamp will be released Oct 3 on the opening ceremony of the 19th Games.

According to the postal officials, the stamps related to the Games are attracting large number of people.

"We have got an amazing response from athletes and delegates in the Games Village. We have sold stamps worth over Rs.14,000 in last one week. Majority of people are buying the Shera stamp having images of the Games mascot," Veerpal Singh, of India Post.

Singh also said they are very happy with the overwhelming response from the players.

"India will be hosting World Philately Exhibition February and this is a sort of curtain raiser for us. We hope to do more business in the coming days," said Vipin Kumar, another staffer at the Village post ofice.

Brittany Teev, a tennis player from Cook Islands - a net of 15 islands in the heart of South Pacific with a population of a mere 13,200 - said: "I bought 10 Shera stamps as souvenirs for my friends back home. I have also bought lots of postcards having shera stamps to send message back home as it is the cheapest means of communication. The facilities here are brilliant."

Calling it one of the best stores in the Village, Alan Ritche from Scotland said: "It is awesome. The people in the store are so friendly that it is an experience of a lifetime."

Some 7,000 participants and officials from 71 countries and territories are expected to attend the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games, India's biggest sporting event after the 1982 Asian Games.

Shera mingles with DU aspirants

Shera, the mascot of the Commonwealth Games 2010, met Delhi University aspirants on Friday. With admissions process for various courses of Delhi University starting, Shera was there on the spot cheering students and visitors.

The mascot attracted the attention of all visitors to the university, a majority them students who were appearing for admission tests and are applying for various courses

"The Commonwealth Games is taking place in our Delhi. So we are very happy, about this. It is good to see that Shera is publicising the Commonwealth Games," said Rahul Chaudhary, a student.

As part of the promotion of the CWG, the organising committee will conduct a quiz competition based on the commonwealth games and the mascot, Shera, will try to lighten the atmosphere through out the form sale period, May 28 to June 11, said CWG officials.

“We want to relieve the students of the pressure they are under and create a friendly atmosphere. Simultaneously, we also want to create awareness about Shera and the games. Though most students of Delhi know about the games, those outside Delhi are not really aware of it so we are trying to familiarise them,” said an Assistant Project Officer of the organising committee.

Students took a break from the form-filling process and participated in the quiz contest. Questions such as “When and when were the first CWG held?” and “What are the two colours of CWG?” were answered by students. One lucky student would be awarded each day with a goodie bag.

Aimed at humouring the students, Shera, entertained some of them as they posed and clicked pictures with the mascot of the CWG.

Shera made his first appearance at the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games 2006 in Melbourne, where it was declared the mascot of the XIX Commonwealth Games to be held in New Delhi in October 2010.

Shera to be star attraction during Republic Day parade

2010 Commonwealth Games OC will get a chance to promote the games during Republic Day parade in Delhi. 2010 Commonwealth Games will have its own tableau taking part in the parade on 26-Jan.

Delhi Commonwealth Games tableau has been prepared at a cost of Rs 1 crore.

With background music by Javed Akhtar and Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Shera is the star attraction. Top athletes of the country, led by Zafar Iqbal, captain of the World Cup hockey squad, and others like Sushil Kumar and PT Usha will take podium position atop the Shera tableau.

While Shera, adorning vibrant colour palette, will be one of the major attractions at the parade, Olympian grappler Sushil Kumar, weightlifter K Malleswari, former runners P T Usha and Milkha Singh, shooter Samresh Juang, ex-badminton player Pullela Gopichand and hockey player Ajit Pal Singh also would be present on the tableau.

The LED screens on either sides of the tableau will display the film combining major sporting events, their medal winners and the snapshots of various games.

The tableau has been made of all recycled eco-friendly material and will emphasises on the various aspects of Green Games.

Shera reminds us of the fragile environment he lives in and our responsibility towards protecting the delicate ecological balance. Then there is Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium's spectacular structure and a globe aptly positioned in the middle of the stadium, made up of recycled paper." Surrounded by LED screens on either sides as well as 25 volunteers of the Games, the tableau is being pitched as a representation of the Green Games.

Click here to read articles on "Commonwealth Games' Republic Day tableau.

Shera spreading happiness during festive season

Shera, the mascot of the Commonwealth Games-2010, visited Gurgaon malls on Wednesday, spreading smiles and encouraging people to be a part of next year's games.

Shera distributed chocolates and merrily mingled with curious shoppers, shaking hands and posing for a quick snap.

People shared their opinions freely and mentioned that it's good if Shera roams around and meets more people. There are few months left for the Commonwealth Games and this is a good way to promote the event. Everyone should know that India is hosting such a grand event and the preparations are in full swing. Delhiites are looking forward to the event.

"We have taken Shera to the common man. The exercise is to promote a sense of ownership amongst the people of India and the youth. The kind of response Shera is getting from the children and adults is good. Commonwealth Games is for the common people," said one of the organisers.

The Commonwealth Games 2010 in New Delhi will be India's first major international sports event after the 1982 Asian Games.

Delhi bagged the Commonwealth Games after beating the Canadian city Hamilton in the bid for rights to host the games to be held between October 3 and 14 next year.

Commonwealth Games mascot Shera plays Santa

Shera, the mascot of the Commonwealth Games-2010, was the centre of attraction at a public event to hail Christmas at the St. Mary's Orthodox Church in Delhi. Amidst the ambience of fun, cheer and happiness, Shera spread the message of amity, joy and belonging in the true spirit of the Commonwealth Games and called upon everyone to come forth and become an integral part of the games.

Shera ushered in a lot of cheer to those gathered at the church located in south Delhi's Hauz Khas area and lit up the faces of all children present on the occasion apart from freely mingling with one and all. Children were delighted to get goody bags containing gifts and candies from Shera. He sang and danced, wishing everyone 'Merry Christmas'.

In response, all those present, including Kiran Walia, Delhi's Health Minister, applauded Shera, who was the surprise guest of the day.

"When Shera steps ahead, it implies there will be a change for better in health facilities, our civic problems...our roads will be better, our flyovers will be better and we'll live happily together. Commonwealth Games has been successful only in those places where everybody had worked together with a team spirit," Walia added.

The Commonwealth Games 2010 in New Delhi will be India's first major international sports event after the 1982 Asian Games.

Delhi bagged the Commonwealth Games after beating the Canadian city Hamilton in the bid for rights to host the games to be held between October 3 and 14 next year.