Shera steals the thunder in R-Day parade in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Shera, the mascot of the XIX Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi was the star attraction of the Republic Day Parade along Rajpath and the eight-kilometer long route on Tuesday.

A quiverful of sportspersons, including boxer Vijender Singh, wrestler Sushil Kumar, weightlifter K Malleshwari, athletes Milkha Singh and P T Usha, hockey Olympians Ajitpal Singh and Zafar Iqbal, shooter Samresh Jung, badminton player Gopichand Pullela and swimmer Khajan Singh were the star attractions of the parade.

The Commonwealth Games tableau was prepared by the best craftsmen sought by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The vibrant colour palette of the Games lent a spectacular look to the tableau.

The iconic Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium’s spectacular structure and a globe aptly positioned in the middle of the stadium along with flags of 70 participating nations and territories showcased how the world will be celebrating the Games at a common platform.

The tableau emphasised various aspects of Green Games. It was made of all recycled eco-friendly material. The wood used in the structure is chip board and MDF Board which is again eco friendly recycled material. The grass & planters on the tableau are natural.

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

Not to be left behind the young, energetic and enterprising volunteers of the Games were there in their colourful track suits. These volunteers walked along the tableau showcasing Delhi United which is the slogan for the volunteers programme.