Team Herald
PANJIM: Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant released a special, commemorative, Ironman 70.3 Goa postal stamp in Panjim on Thursday evening.
The stamp which has been issued by India Posts, is the first occasion in the 40 plus years of the ironman history where a nation’s postal department has extendedits support in this manner.
The Ironman 70.3 Goa, half distance triathlon to be held in Panjim on Sunday is the first official, Ironman 70.3 race to be held in India, catapulting India into the elite club of 53 host nations across the world who organise ironman races.
This special stamp will be awarded to each participant. As many as 1,000 triathletes from 27 countries worldwide are taking part in this event.
Chief Minister Dr Sawant also released an innovative, Ironman 70.3 Goa finisher’s medal which takes inspiration from the confluence of the three elements of nature – water, earth and wind – that the tri-athletes will face in the course of their 113 kms race.
The concept behind the medal design is to bring forth the essence of Goa- the waves, the lighthouse and the coconut-palm fronds which are a symbolic parallel to the three stages of the triathlon – swim, bike and run.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Sawant said, “I am delighted that Ironman 70.3 Goa is being held close on the heels of the Fit-India movement recently announced by Prime Minister Modi. I wish to congratulate Yoska’s commitment to fitness and healthy living by organising such an iconic event in India for the first time which has resulted in getting Goa on the world map as a sports destination.”
Earlier in the evening, Geoff Meyer, managing director, Ironman Asia expressed his happiness at Ironman making a debut in Goa and India. “Over the past few years, we have seen tremendous sporting developments in India. India is obviously a huge market going through a fitness transformation,” Meyer said.
Deepak Raj, 20-times Ironman and race director of the event, who also spoke on the occasion said, “It was our dream to bring ironman to India and provide the fast-growing triathlete community in the country an opportunity to race at home.”
