“Goa To Host National Games In 2023”: Sports Minister Govind Gaude

Sports Minister Mr. Govind Gaude announced that Goa will be hosting National Games in 2023. After struggling for nearly a decade Goa has got the permit to host National Games next year. Sports Minister also thanks Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for this opportunity.

Taking to Twitter he tweeted, “It gives me an immense pleasure to share a news that we have received a communication from #IOA shortlisting Goa for 37th National Games 2023. Thanking @PMOIndia @narendramodi ji, Union Home Minister @AmitShah ji, Union Minister for Sports & Youth Affairs  @ianuragthakur Ji for showing love towards Goa and #IndianOlympicAssociation for considering our bid for the games. Government under the able leadership of  @goacm @DrPramodPSawant is commited to bring Goa on the sporting map of India.”

He also stated that all the financial commitments given by the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs to medal the winners in Goa would be cleared by Ganesh Chaturti.

By December 2022, the infrastructure required for holding games in Goa will be ready, Gaude said while making the announcement in the state Assembly. “The Government of Goa has received an email from the Indian Olympics Association in consultation with the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports that the state will be the host for the 37th National Games anytime in 2023,” Gaude told the House.

In 2015, the last National Games were held in Kerala, Goa was to host the 36th edition of the Games in 2016. After two delays in 2018 and 2019, because of the coastal state’s inability to create adequate infrastructure, the Games were further postponed to 2020.

But as Covid 19 Pandemic globally affected people, National Games had to be postponded. Yet this year Goa’s government was uncertain of holding it this year. But now as per latest news, Sports Minister said he had already informed members of the Goa Legislative Assembly that the state would be ready to host the National Games by December 2022.

These games were started in 1920’s as the Indian chapter of the Olympic movement and we participated in the Antwerp Olympics. As part of this movement, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) was formed in 1924 and they hosted the first Indian Olympic Games in Feb 1924 at  Delhi Indians and Sinhalese, ate their food around the same table and mingled intimately in the cramped and uncomfortable quarters provided. The games were then held every two years, and were renamed as National Games during the 9th edition at Bombay in 1940.

Cycling, Golf, Tennis, Shooting, Boxing, Football, Hockey, Kabbadi, Kho-Kho, Handball, Judo, Weightlifting, Archery, Basketball, Gymnastics, Fencing, Karate, Rugby, Squash, Rowing, Volleyball, Triathlon, Wrestling, Sailing and many other sport are played at the National Games.