Competitions to be held in 11 sports
Raipur, September 2026 : Registration for the third edition of the Bastar Olympics will begin on October 1, with block-level competitions scheduled to be held in November. The initiative aims to connect the youth of the Bastar region with the mainstream, nurture their creativity and sporting talent, and provide them with greater opportunities.
The Sports and Youth Welfare Department has directed the Commissioner of Bastar Division and collectors of all districts to undertake extensive publicity for the Bastar Olympics and encourage maximum participation by young athletes.
The Bastar Olympics will have a junior category for boys and girls aged between 14 and 17 years, while women and men will participate in the senior category. Participants who became disabled due to Naxal violence, as well as rehabilitated members, will be ensured direct participation at the divisional level.
Registration from October 1 to 30
Registration for various competitions under the Bastar Olympics will be open from October 1 to October 30.
The competitions will be conducted in phases at the block, district and divisional levels during November and December. Block-level competitions are proposed to be held from November 1 to 13, district-level events from November 16 to 25, and divisional-level competitions from December 7 to 11.
The athletics events will include 100-metre, 200-metre and 400-metre races, long jump, high jump, shot put, discus throw, javelin throw and the 4x100-metre relay.
Competitions will also be held in archery at 30-metre and 50-metre distances, badminton, football, karate, kabaddi, kho-kho and volleyball.
Hockey and weightlifting competitions will be conducted directly at the district level. Tug-of-war has also been included as a demonstration sport for the senior women’s category.
Previous two editions witnessed strong participation
The first edition of the Bastar Olympics was organised by the state government in 2024 with the objective of connecting Bastar’s youth with the mainstream and identifying and nurturing their sporting talent.
As many as 1.65 lakh players participated in the inaugural edition.
The second edition, held in 2025, witnessed registration of 3.91 lakh players, marking a substantial increase in participation.
To inspire young people in Bastar, 13 players who delivered outstanding performances in the first edition and 18 players from the second edition were identified as Youth Icons.
The third edition is expected to further expand opportunities for young people in the region and provide them with a platform to showcase their sporting abilities at block, district and divisional levels.
