India is the proud organizer of the 19th Common Wealth Games commencing from October 3rd 2010 to October 14th 2010 under the auspice of Indian Olympic Committee. It is for the third time that India is hosting such large multi-sport extravaganza, prior to this India had been the proud organizer of Asian Games in 1951 and 1982 respectively.
This will be the second time that Common Wealth Games will be held in any Asian country prior to this; the mega sport event has been held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1998. This year the opening ceremony for Common Wealth Games 2010 is scheduled to take place on October 3rd 2010 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi.
Green Games:
Common Wealth Games 2010 will be recognized as first ever Green Games in the history of this mega sport event. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the organizing committee of common wealth games and United Nations Environment Programme to hold the ‘sustainable games’ and take care of environment while rejuvenating the old monuments and constructing the new places for the organization of the event. Thyagaraj Stadium is going to be an illustrative example of environmentally constructed stadium.
Official Logo for XIX Common Wealth Games 2010:
The logo for the 2010 Commonwealth Games was revealed on 6 January 2008 at an event-taking place at the India Gate. The Ashoka Chakra, a symbol of freedom, unity, and power, inspires the logo.
Its spiraling upwards symbolizes India's rise as a global power and its transition from tradition to modernity. The colors symbolize India's vibrant and diverse culture and people, and each part of the logo symbolizes India welcoming the 71 Commonwealth nations and territories.
The Mascot:
The mascot of 19th Common Wealth Games is Shera, which is going to be the most viewable and loving face during the whole event. Shera is hindi word that denotes the word Sher meaning the tiger.
Sher is referred as the vehicle of Goddess Durga, symbol of power (or shakti, the female power) and also the abolisher of sins in Indian mythology. Shera also symbolizes the features of country’s majesty, power, intelligence, and grace.
Shera, The Mascot
Slogan for XIX Common Wealth Games 2010:
Slogan for XIX Common Wealth Games 2010 is " Come out and Play".
Sports in XIX Common Wealth Games 2010:
During Common Wealth Games 2010 players from 71 contesting countries will sweat for following 17 disciplines of sports in India:
1. Aquatics
2. Archery
3. Athletics
4. Badminton
5. Bowls
6. Boxing
7. Cycling
8. Gymnastics
9. Hockey
10. Lawnballs
11. Netball
12. Rugby Sevens
13. Shooting
14. Squash
15. Table Tennis
16. Tennis
17. Weightlifting