KATHMANDU, Aug 14: The 10th National Games are scheduled to be held from December 2 to 15 in Karnali Province.
The 125th board meeting of the National Sports Council (NSC), held at the Ministry of Education and Sports in Singha Durbar, decided that the National Games, originally scheduled for 2024, will be held this December. However, this marks the fifth time the Games have been postponed. The NSC had previously announced four different dates, but the competition was postponed each time for one reason or another.
The Games were initially scheduled for 2024. Since then, the NSC has announced new dates at various stages. Most recently, the NSC’s 123rd board meeting decided that the competition would be held in early 2026. However, as the necessary preparations could not be completed, the Games were postponed again.
The concept of the National Games was introduced in 1982, with the event envisioned to be held every two years. However, political instability and frequent changes in government have prevented the Games from being organized regularly.
By now, the 20th edition of the Games should have been completed, with preparations underway for the 21st edition. Instead, even the organization of the 10th edition remains uncertain.
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At the closing ceremony of the 9th National Games on October 20, 2022, then Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba handed over the National Games flag to Karnali Province, which was scheduled to host the 10th edition in November 2024.
Although the outgoing government had allocated a budget for the 10th National Games and the host Karnali Province had already begun preparations, then Sports Minister Teju Lal Chaudhary repeatedly postponed the event.
For the first time in the history of the National Games, the government had allocated a budget well in advance, while the Karnali provincial government had invested more than Rs 2 billion in sports infrastructure. However, Sports Minister Chaudhary halted preparations for the 10th Games, with the NSC’s 122nd board meeting deciding that the Games could not be held despite opposition to the decision.
What is on today's agenda?
The 125th NSC board meeting is set to decide on several important issues, including Nepal’s participation in the 20th Asian Games.
The agenda includes approving the sports disciplines and the list of athletes, coaches, managers and officials who will participate in the upcoming Asian Games. The meeting will also discuss the Asian Games Competition Operation and Management Guide-2026, as well as the budget and norms for preparations and participation in the Games.
The board will also consider proposals to finalize the sports disciplines for the 10th National Games and approve guidelines for the formation of the Organizing Committee and the conduct of the competition. A proposal concerning the budget and norms for the National Games is also on the agenda.
The meeting will also decide on the NSC’s budget for the ongoing fiscal year 2026/27.
A proposal concerning the council’s estimated internal income and expenditure will also be presented to the board.
The agenda also includes a proposal to appoint technical personnel on a contractual basis. It proposes hiring one civil engineer and four civil, architectural, electrical or structural personnel for infrastructure construction. The council also plans to hire two information technology (IT) experts and legal advisors on a contractual basis.
Similarly, the board will discuss the operation of grassroots sports programs, grants to sports associations for sports programs, and criteria for the use of the National Players’ Welfare Fund.
The meeting will also consider a proposal to approve the authority delegated to the Council Member Secretary on May 21, 2026, by the Minister of Education and Sports and Chairman of the NSC.
Other items on the proposed agenda include approving the establishment of a procurement branch by the executive committee, making necessary decisions regarding the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), and renewing sports associations.
