Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday claimed that the State is on its way to creating a world record for having the maximum number of sporting disciplines at the 37th National Games scheduled to be inaugurated later this month in Goa.
Goa’s biggest sporting extravaganza will be officially kicked off on October 26 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will go on till November 9. It will see athletes competing in around 43 disciplines, the highest number so far, in around 28 venues across the State, including Panjim, Mapusa, Vasco, Ponda, Margao and Colva beach.
The Games promise to be historical with more than 10,000 participants, of which 49 per cent are women athletes. “It’s the first time that so many women athletes are participating and we have to welcome more,” Sawant said, addressing a press conference on October 6, Friday.
The 37th National Games will have 4,740 technical officers to oversee the event. One stands the chance of witnessing five watersports and eight indigenous sports, which include lagori and gatka.
The Games will mark the debut of several new sports disciplines, including beach football, roll ball, sepaktakraw, sqay martial arts, Kalaripayattu and pencak silat. Goan athletes will be competing in 36 of the 43 disciplines. The host State can participate in as many events it wishes.
The Chief Minister said that the State, which is famous among tourists for its beautiful beaches, is doing whatever possible to create a sports ecosystem. “We now intend to attract sports enthusiasts from around the world. We’ve successfully hosted events like Ironman drawing athletes from around the world and the world table tennis event with participants from 22 countries,” he said.
We now intend to attract sports enthusiasts from around the world. We’ve successfully hosted events like Ironman drawing athletes from around the world
Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister
“With our state-of-the-art infrastructure developed for the National Games, we invite sports associations and national federations to utilise these facilities year round for their events. Our goal is to take sports in Goa to new heights,” he added.
The Games will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 12,000 capacity Fatorda stadium in Margao at 6.30pm on October 26.
Amitabh Sharma, chairman of the National Games Technical Conduct Committee, said that the infrastructure and preparation for the games were satisfactory, while the Chief Minister added that all venues will be completed six days prior to the event.