Scheduled to be held in October 2023, the local delegation is set to receive the IOA flag at the Closing Ceremony of the 36th edition of the National Games which will coclude in Gujarat on Wednesday (October 12).

"IOA is pleased to note the wholehearted support of the Government of Goa to host the 37th National Games in Goa in 2023," wrote IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta, in a letter to Ajit Roy, Secretary, Sports and Youth Affairs, Goa.

A date for the next edition of the National Games is yet to be decided.

However, IOA has confirmed that it will take place only after the postponed Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games.

New dates of September 23 to October 8 have been set by the Olympic Council of Asia for Hangzhou 2022, which was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

This will be the first time that Goa will be hosting the event.

However, the state had the rights to host the current edition in 2008 but was not able to do so due to different reasons.

The pandemic postponed the event further with Goa Government expressing its inability to host the event, forcing IOA to move the event to Gujarat.

A total of 7,000 competitors from more than 30 sports are competing in Gujarat this year.

Olympic javelin champion Neeraj Chopra and Asian Games 200 metres gold medallist PT Usha are some of the talents that came up at the National Games.