Monal bird to be mascot for 2018 National Games to be held in Uttarakhand

Monal, the state bird of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, has been accepted as the mascot for the 38th National Games, being held in Uttarakhand in 2018. State Sports Secretary Shailash Bagauli stated this here today.

“I have been informed by the Indian Olympic Association that the Monal bird has been finalised as the mascot of the games, though I’m yet to receive information officially. The Uttarakhand Sports Department had proposed Monal as the symbol of the National Games,” Bagauli said.

Monal, also the national bird of Nepal, is a shy bird found between 8,000 and 15,000 feet in high Himalayan reaches. It comes with nine colours and a feather cap and is termed the peacock of the Himalayas.

Sources in the Indian Olympic Association said the Uttarakhand Sports Department had proposed only Monal as the mascot of the games. The proposal had been accepted and the information regarding the same had been sent to the state.

Before proposing the Monal as the mascot for the 38th National Games, the Sports Department had conducted a survey between Monal and Musk deer for the purpose and Monal had polled the highest votes.