IXth National Games

Preparations have been started for the IXth National Games to be held in Pokhara, the capital city of Gandaki province.

Preparation works for the Games have been moved ahead after it was confirmed that the IXth National Games would be held from October 14 to 20, in Gandaki province, mainly in Pokhara. The Games was postponed from time to time due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lately the local level election.

The Gandaki province has got the opportunity to host the National Games after about four decades. It had oganised the second edition of the largest national sporting event in 2040 BS.

Activities like inspection of the sports infrastructure and athlete training have been pursued after the division of works and the responsibilities and announcing the date of the Games by National Sports Council (NSC).

In this connection, the sports venue management sub-committee formed by NSC has observed the various playgrounds and sports infrastructures in Kaski since some days under the leadership of sub-committee coordinator and NSC member Rajesh Kumar Gurung. A team of the sub-committee has inspected the Sahara Club's football ground, the Gosteghat play ground at Pokhara-19, the Mahendra Secondary School play ground at Machhapuchchhre rural municipality, the Gauri Shankar play ground at Hemja and the Nepali Army's playground.

Coordinator Gurung said that although the competitions under the IXth National Games would be held in Pokhara stadium itself, the sub-committee is in the process of scoping the practice ground for the participating teams. According to him, the covered halls and play grounds constructed in several wards of Pokhara metropolis would be maximally utilised for this purpose.

"We have moved forward the preparatory works from now for organising the IXth National Games which remains as the country's prestige in a grand manner. We have started monitoring the sports venues and we will assess the status of the sports structures and what needs to be done. We plan to provide the best possible facilities to the participating teams for them to practice and prepare," Gurung said.

The Gandaki Province Sports Council too has started preparations for the National Games. Although the main responsibility for the sports event lies with NSC under the federal government, the Province Sports Council is equally enthusiastic and is actively involved in the preparatory works to make the Games successful.

Province Sports Council's member-secretary Tej Bahadur Gurung said the Council's plenary meeting on Monday allocated different responsibilities to the Council officials for facilitating in the successful conduction of the IXth National Games and the various sports competitions under it to be organised in Gandaki province.