India hosted the historic Pythian Games Festival at the Thyagraj Stadium from December 19th to 21st, 2023, reviving the ancient Pan-Hellenic tradition after 1630 years. This event brought together global participants across cultural backgrounds, showcasing talents in cultural and sporting competitions.
The Founder of Modern Pythian Games and Former Special Representative (Minister of State), Jharkhand, Mr. Bijender Goel, via X (formerly Twitter), expressed gratitude to the Pythian Council of Delhi, participants, sponsors, and partners for the success of the 1st Pythian Games Festival in New Delhi. He announced plans for the National Pythian Games in 2024 and proposed Athens, Greece, as the host city for 2027. Encouraging collaborations, he aimed to expand opportunities for artists in music, dance, martial arts, and traditional games.
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Pythian Council of Delhi, participants, volunteers and sponsors (Charles Group, Gemopie and farmer Fresh) and event partners ( DD sports, All India Radio and ABP Live) for successfully organizing the 1st Pythian Games Festival 2023 in New Delhi from 19-21 December 2023,” he mentioned in his tweet.
First National Pythian Games In 2024?
“Our next goal is to host the 1st National Pythian Games in September-October 2024 and initiate state-level activities promptly to provide opportunities for artists in music, dance, singing, painting, theatre, various martial arts, and traditional games.
I kindly request all state/national federations and other stakeholders to reach me in the inbox or mail me at goelbijender@pythiangames.org for future collaboration," he added.
The recently concluded three-day event featured a wide array of competitions spanning Music, Dance, Singing, Painting, Poetry, and diverse sports like Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Indiaca, Karate, Musical Chairs, Tug of War, and Football, among others. A total of 22 nations, including Greece, Nepal, and several African countries such as Tanzania, Zimbabwe, South Sudan, Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Benin, Gambia, Ghana, Cameroon, Zambia, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, and Namibia, participated, creating a vibrant and culturally enriched atmosphere at the event.
The Pythian Games Festival emphasised the unity of nations through friendly competition, promoting cultural exchange and understanding. Participants demonstrated outstanding talent, dedication, and sportsmanship, contributing significantly to the event's success.