The vuvuzela will be a force to reckon with at the upcoming Commonwealth Games in the city. That is, if the authorities at the stadia do not object. The horn that rocked the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa but triggered complaints of noise pollution will be among 29 products on sale as official merchandise for the Games.
The merchandise was unveiled at the Organising Committee’s headquarters here on Thursday, with Organising Committee officials stressing that the products were priced between Rs.25 and Rs.300 to make them affordable to the general public.
Besides the vuvuzela which will cost Rs.150, the other items on sale include T-shirts in various colours, coffee mugs, glasses, caps, headgear, thermos, water bottles, key-chains and souvenirs. The merchandise has been manufactured by Premium Brands, the OC’s merchandising partner.
Beijing Olympics bronze medal winning wrestler Sushil Kumar, who is also a brand ambassador for the Games, flagged off the mobile vans which will go around the National Capital Region to sell the merchandise.
“I would like to say that only the lucky countries get an opportunity to host the Games. I appeal to everyone to work together to make the Games a success and enhance the prestige of the nation,” Sushil said.
Premier Brands chairman Suresh Kumar said the official Games merchandise range has been created to reach out to the masses. “Each piece is made with the best and safest quality material and will be available at the most affordable price. We’re confident that the Games merchandise will become a part of everyone’s emotion and culminate in an experience to relish,” he said.
The products will also be available for sale at the Premier Brands website from September 6.
The merchandising products will also be made available through four mobile vans dubbed “Shops on Wheels”, which will visit schools in the morning and residential societies and shopping malls in the afternoon.
In addition, the merchandise will be sold at all the competition venues and the Games Village as well as at high footfall areas in the Capital like the international and domestic airport terminals, metro rail stations, selected railway stations and retail outlets.
In the second phase of sales, six stores will be set up across the NCR. Plans are on to have 60 stores functioning at all the Games venues for the sale of these products. There will also be a high-end range of products available from September 15 for the foreign delegates and athletes.
The mobile vans visiting schools will also sell tickets for the sporting events at a 10 per cent discount.
