Logo, mascot unveiled

The logo and the mascot of the 12th South Asian Games, 2016 were unveiled yesterday at a ceremony in Guwahati, which will co-host the event along with Shillong from February 6 to 16 next year.

About 4500 sport persons and officials from eight countries -- Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives -- are expected to participate in 23 events in the regional sporting extravaganza.

The logo has eight petals seen moving in a clockwise direction showing the positive spirit of the games.

The traditional 'gamcha' has been introduced to promote the tradition of the region and to connect the games with the local people. The logo has been designed to capture the essence of games which is peace, prosperity and progress.

The mascot has been named as Tikhor, which is someone sharp, naughty, sporty and modern.