Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Dr. PT Usha attended the grand mascot unveiling ceremony of the 38th National Games on Sunday at Maharana Pratap Sports College in Raipur, Dehradun.
During the ceremony, it was revealed that traditional sports like yoga and mallakhamb are now part of the National Games. The IOA approved this decision following CM Pushkar Singh Dhami's request.
The event also witnessed the launch of the mascot "Mauli," logo, jersey, anthem, and tagline for the 38th National Games — "Sankalp Se Shikhar Tak".
The Chief Minister said the day marks a historic moment in Uttarakhand’s sports history. On behalf of all Uttarakhand residents, he also expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for granting the state the opportunity to host the National Games.
The Chief Minister said that the Games' logo, inspired by the state bird — the Himalayan Monal — represents Uttarakhand’s natural beauty and cultural hues. The anthem not only symbolizes unity but also inspires athletes to strive harder. The mascot, also inspired by Monal, reflects the uniqueness of Uttarakhand and motivates young athletes to set ambitious goals.
Addressing the gathering as the Chief Guest, Chief Minister Dhami emphasized the importance of unwavering resolve in achieving any goal. He assured that Uttarakhand is now fully prepared to host the 38th National Games successfully. The state government has allocated approximately ₹500 crore for infrastructural development, including constructing new sports grounds, renovating stadiums and swimming pools, and developing infrastructure for water sports, cycling tracks, and shooting ranges.
Further, he said, in a bid to provide local athletes with opportunities, the state government is also building small sports stadiums in hilly areas. He highlighted the efforts under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership to establish India as a global sports powerhouse through initiatives like Fit India and Khelo India. The state government is continuously working to promote sports and athletes by implementing a new sports policy, offering government jobs to athletes winning medals at national and international levels, and doubling the prize money for athletes.
The Chief Minister expressed hope that athletes participating in the National Games will leave Uttarakhand with a positive experience.
Union Minister of State for Sports, Raksha Khadse, lauded the country’s athletes for their stellar performances in international competitions and commended Uttarakhand’s athletes for bringing pride to the state and the nation. She assured the central government’s full support in Uttarakhand’s sports development efforts and shared aspirations for hosting the Olympics in India. A video message from Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya was also played during the event.
IOA President Dr. PT Usha extended her wishes to Uttarakhand for hosting the National Games and praised Chief Minister Dhami’s leadership, expressing confidence that Uttarakhand will achieve remarkable progress in sports development.
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