Goa to host 37th National Games with 43 sports disciplines

While giving information in a press conference on 6 September 2023, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that Goa will host the 37th National Games, in which a record 43 sports disciplines will be included so far.

• The 37th National Sports Event will be an occasion to celebrate athletic prowess and camaraderie and will feature a host of exciting sporting events.

The mascot of the 37th National Games is 'Moga':

• The mascot of the 37th National Games has been named 'Moga'.

37th National Games to be held for 15 days:

• The Olympic-style multi-sport event will see participation from 28 states and 8 union territories. These games will be held from 26 October to 9 November (15 days).
• Multiple venues across the state will host various competitions, of which cycling and golf will be held in Delhi.

Will the 37th National Games be the biggest event ever?

• The previous event, in Gujarat, featured a total of 36 sporting disciplines and the 2015 edition in Kerala featured 33 sporting disciplines.
• In comparison, this year's National Games will be the biggest event ever.

Goa is paying more attention to sports along with tourism:

• Chief Minister Pramod Sawant aspires to establish a thriving sports ecosystem in Goa. Just as tourists have been enjoying our beautiful beaches for a long time, Goa now aims to attract sports lovers from all over the world.
• Events like Ironman and World Table Tennis have showcased our capabilities in hosting international sporting events.

Many new sports will start:

• The 37th National Games will see the debut of several new sports at medal level, including beach football, roll ball, golf, sepaktakraw, square martial arts, Kaliyapattu and pencak silat.

Return of Sailing and Taekwondo:

• Additionally, Sailing and Taekwondo are returning, which were not included in the previous edition.
• To celebrate the tradition, the games of Lagori and Gatka have been included as demonstration games, adding a unique and cultural dimension to the event.
• More than 10,000 athletes will gather to excel in this event.
• India's excellent performance in the ongoing Asian Games 2022 in China and winning the highest number of medals so far is a good sign of preparation for the Paris Olympics 2024.