Union minister Venkaiah Naidu to open 35th National Games

Thiruvananthapuram: The 35th National Games, to be hosted by Kerala from January 31 to February 14, will be inaugurated by Union Minister for Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs Venkaiah Naidu, it was officially announced Saturday.

"Naidu will open the Games at a function in the newly-built Greenfield Stadium at Karyavattom on the evening of Jan 31. An array of significant personalities from various walks of life including ministers and sportspersons will be present during the occasion," state sports minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said.

Cricket maestro Sachin Tendulkar, the Goodwill Ambassador of the event, will handover the Games Flame to sprint queen P T USha and international long-jumper Anju Bobby George, beginning the much-awaited gala, he told a press meet.

"Tendulkar has agreed to be part of the inaugural ceremony. He will hand over the Games flame to P T Usha and Anju Bobby George who in turn will jointly light the lamp of Games marking its beginning," he said.

Union Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, state Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan, Assembly Speaker G Karthikeyan and other state cabinet ministers and MLAs would be among the participants, he said.

The inauguration will be followed by a colourful cultural fiesta in which over 5000 artists from various states would showcase their talents.

Governor Justice P Sathasivam and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari would participate in the concluding ceremony on February 14, the minister added.