The curtain raiser event of 36th National Games was recently held on September 4, 2022, in the presence of eminent dignitaries from the government. Present at the ceremony were Union Home Minister Amit Shah along with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur.
More than 9,000 distinguished guests from across the state also attended the glittering ceremony where the curtain-raiser event witnessed the unveiling of the Games Anthem and Mascot, as well as a custom-curated website and mobile application, marking the beginning of the biggest sporting extravaganza in the country.
Addressing the gathering, Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur said, “We are delighted that the National Games are back after 7 years and this will one will be the biggest and grandest ever. It normally takes years to organise an event of this scale but Gujarat did this in less than three months. It is all thanks to the efforts of the CM, with IOA supporting our initiative in a big way. Over 12,000 athletes, officials and support stage will enjoy not only the sporting extravaganza but also the garba here."
The theme of the 36th National Games is 'Celebrating Unity Through Sports' and the same are being held after a gap of seven years. These games will take place from September 29 to October 12, 2022, across six cities in Gujarat and one event in New Delhi.
An estimated 7,000 athletes from 28 states and eight Union Territories are expected to take part across 36 disciplines that include most traditional Olympic sports. Indigenous sports like mallakhamb and yogasana will also feature in the National Games for the first time.
The winners of the Khel Mahakumbh, including the top 3 schools, districts and municipal corporations of the state, were felicitated shortly before the launch of the mascot which represents India's cultural heritage while also giving a glimpse of a rapidly growing India which is set to become a global leader again.
The anthem of the Games, encapsulating the philosophy of Judega India, Jitega India, has been rendered by Bollywood star singer Sukhwinder Singh. The lyrics of the national sports festival's theme song inspire the youth of the country to connect and conquer historic places like the Statue of Unity and Sabarmati. Embellished with impressive sports scenes, the theme song captures the heart of how athletes triumph despite adversity.
The last National Games were held in Kerala in 2015.
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