New Delhi, India, October 10, 2022: Goa will host the 37th edition of the National Games in October 2023, the Indian Olympic Association confirmed last Saturday, October 8.
IOA Secretary General Rajeev Mehta wrote in a letter to Ajit Roy, Secretary, Sports and Youth Affairs, Goa: “IOA is pleased to note the wholehearted support of the Government of Goa to host the 37th National Games in Goa in 2023.”
The Goa delegation will receive the IOA Flag at the Closing Ceremony of the 36th National Games on Wednesday, October 12 in Surat, Gujarat.
The IOA, however, said the dates for the 37th National Games would be decided later. It will be held after the 19th Hangzhou Asian Games ends on October 8, 2023.
Goa had the rights to host the 36th National Games in 2008 but, due to different reasons, the state failed to host them. The pandemic forced the postponement of the showpiece further with the Goa Government expressing its inability to host the event before December this year, resulting in the IOA moving it to Gujarat.
Goa will now host the National Games for the first time next year.
The ongoing National Games in Gujarat features over 7,000 competitors in more than 30 sports, including non-Olympic sports.
Finding athletes with the potential to represent the nation at the Olympics is the goal of the National Games. Over the years, the National Games has unearthed athletes like Neeraj Chopra and PT Usha.