Lusofonia Games: Milkha, Sania to launch mascot

PANAJI: The Lusofonia Games is not quite a magnet for some of the world's best sporting stars from the 11 Portuguese-speaking countries.
The launch of the Lusofonia Games mascot, though, will not be short on star quotient and glamour- of course from the sporting field-as Milkha Singh, the finest athlete India has ever produced, and tennis star Sania Mirza have confirmed their presence for the expectedly glittering function on December 10.
The Flying Sikh, who stirred India's consciousness again with the Farhan Akhtar starrer Bhag Milkha Bhag was the first guest name on Goa's list and he did not disappoint, instantly accepting the invitation.
Saina, too, told the organizers she would be more than happy to be part of Goa's biggest sporting event.
"This will be one of the finest shows that Goa has ever seen," said a senior member of the Lusofonia Games organizing committee (LUGOC).
The curtain raiser event, to be held at the SAG ground in Campal at 7pm, will see the launch of the mascot -- the Goan kombo, or rooster, an animal which binds Portuguese culture.
"The mascot will be named Jojo," said another official.
The two-hour event will also see the launch of the theme song, tentatively titled Viva Lusofonia, penned by St Andre MLA Vishnu Surya Wagh. The multilingual song is expected to be sung by Goa's quintessential nightingales - the evergreen Lorna and Goa's fadista Sonia Shirsat. Music has been composed by Mukesh Ghatwal.
The launch will take place in the presence of chef-de-missions of the participating countries and ACOLOP members, including the new president who will be elected on December 5.
Kicking off the celebrations around the Lusofonia Games, the "dazzling ceremony" along the river Mandovi.
"The theme for the ceremony is panchtantra. The glittering evening will see a mesmerising performance of various art forms, symbolic of the five elements of nature - fire, water, earth, air and ether (Agni-Jal-Vayo-Prithvi-Aakash)," said the official.
The launch event has been conceptualised by a team of creative intellectuals including Tomazinho Cardozo, Ajay Vaiydya, Shridhar Bambolkar, Rose Ferns, Rajeev Shinde and Satish Gawas, led by celebrated theatre director Bansi Kaul.