35th National Games

35th National Games dates were announced at the Members’ Lounge of the Kerala Legislative Assembly complex, Thiruvananthapuram by Indian Olympic Association (IOA). The games will be held at 32 different venues across seven districts of Kerala from 31 January to 14 February 2015.   The dates for the games were formally approved by Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Sarbanand Sonowal on behalf of Government of India. The 35th National Games will be held in 36 disciplines and will see a total of 11641 participants that includes 7744 athletes. The participants will compete for a total of 365 gold and silver medals as well as 477 bronze medals.

This is for the second time Kerala will be hosting the National Games. For the first time, Kerala conducted the 27th National Games in 1987.

Logo and the Mascot of the Game: The logo and the mascot of the 35th National Games was unveiled on 11 December 2009.

Mascot: Ammu, the Great Indian Hornbill

Logo: Design in the pattern of Kanikonana (Indian Laburnum Cassia) also resembling a nettipattom (festival elephant's mask)

Goodwill Ambassador of 35th National Games - Sachin Tendulkar

Last two National Games were held in

• 2011 – Ranchi, Jharkhand (34th National Games)

• 2007 – Guwahati, Assam (33rd National Games)

First National Games were held in 1924 in Lahore as Indian Olympic Games. In 1940 Indian Olympic Games were changed to National Games. First National Games after independence were held in Lucknow in 1948.