36th National Games' Anthem, Mascot to be launched by Home Minister, Gujarat CM

Ahmedabad: On Sunday evening, prominent dignitaries from the political and athletic worlds will attend the official inauguration of the 36th National Games, Gujarat 2022, at the EKA Arena TransStadia in this city.

Along with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur will attend the major event. The dazzling occasion is anticipated to draw more than 9,000 eminent guests from throughout the state.

The curtain-raiser event will witness 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, the organisers informed in a release on Saturday, IANS reported.

"We are delighted and proud to host the National Games," Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel said. "We are eagerly waiting for India's top athletes and officials and are leaving no stone unturned to make this the best Games ever," he added.

The 36th National Games, whose theme is Celebrating Unity Through Sports, are being held after a gap of seven years and will take place from September 29 to October 12.

As many as six cities in the state -- Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot and Bhavnagar -- will play hosts. New Delhi will additionally host the track cycling event.

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 Games were last held in Kerala in 2015