Sports promote national integration: Prez

President Pranab Mukherjee today said sporting activities act to inculcate national pride and feeling of national integration as he complimented the winners of the 35th National Games that concluded in Kerala.
In his message, Mukherjee congratulated all the participants and medal winners and urged them to continue to do their best to bring glory to themselves as well as their family, friends and community.
He said the National Games are held every four years to provide a forum for states to compete with each other and enable our sportspersons demonstrate the excellence they can achieve.
"Sports and games are important for every community and society. They promote national integration and inculcate, national pride, foster friendship, amity and a spirit of sportsmanship," he said.

The President also congratulated Kerala for hosting the National Games for the second time after 1987 and said it has built elaborate as well as state of the art infrastructure across the state.
He also congratulated the organisers for the efficient conduct of the Games, in which more than 10,000 athletes have competed in 33 events at 32 venues to win a total of 1363 medals, including 412 each of gold and silver.