Bhubaneswar: Sports has created a new and unique identity for Odisha. The state is being recognized as a major sports destination in the country. Sports has become one of the pillars of New Odisha.
Continuing the momentum in this sector, the total outlay for Sports and Youth Services has been enhanced from Rs.149 crore in 2017-18 to Rs.1,217 crore in 2023-24, more than eight-fold increase. Odisha is leading the country in terms of large-scale investment in sports which will yield dividends in the coming decades, said the Finance Minister while presenting the Budget for the year 2023-24 in the Assembly on Friday.
He said, “Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has been praised as a patron of sports especially hockey, and his vision of “Sports for youth…youth for future” leading to sports development and youth empowerment, has been hailed as a model across the country”.
The State Government will continue to focus on large scale sports development through creation of sports infrastructure, professional coaching programs and supporting national and international sports championships.
Odisha has become a preferred destination of the sports federations and sports persons. The 89 multipurpose indoor stadiums in the urban areas have almost been completed and will be operationalised in the coming months. We are building 21 Astroturf-based hockey training centers, swimming training centers, weightlifting training centers, football training centers, gymnastics training centers etc. Regional sports complexes are coming up in cities like Rourkela, Puri, Berhampur, Jeypore, Jharsuguda, Jajpur, Keonjhar etc.
The successful organisation of the FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 last month has been a land mark in the state’s sports history. For the first time, the World Cup was held consecutively in the same host nation. Further, this edition was organized in two venues- Bhubaneswar and Rourkela. It was a major challenge to organize the World Cup in Rourkela. In spite of Covid and adverse weather conditions, the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium, Rourkela was built within a short period of 15 months. Similarly, the 225-room World Cup Village was constructed within 9 months. It’s a matter of great pride for all of us that Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium has been declared as the World’s largest fully-seated hockey stadium and certified by Guinness Book of World Records. This has been possible due to the vision, will and determination of our Hon’ble Chief Minister. Odisha has emerged as a global hub for hockey with both the top hockey stadiums in the world located in our state, the Finance Minister said.
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