Rourkela: By dedicating the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium, the largest hockey stadium in the world, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has not only added a golden chapter in the history of world sports, but also exhibited the spirit of his team Odisha that has been driving the State towards a new era of transformation.
While Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium is Odisha’s greatest gift to entire nation, the relentless efforts made by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in building such a large stadium in record 15 months has really demonstrated his true leadership. The stadium will remain a crown jewel of hockey, transforming the country into a powerful force in the game for decades to come. It will help nurturing hockey talents to bring laurels for the country.
Odisha showcased its capability to host one of the biggest sporting events of the world by successfully conducting the Men’s Hockey World Cup 2018 in Bhubaneswar. As Odisha is geared up to host the mega event for the second consecutive time, the Birsa Munda International Stadium will remain a testimony to Odisha’s hockey endeavors and tell the story of rising Odisha.
The Hockey World Cup will be held at the iconic Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar and the Birsa Munda International Stadium in Rourkela with participation of 16 countries from 5 continents.
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and direct supervision of 5T Secretary VK Pandian, Odisha has created this monumental international hockey stadium with a capacity of more than 20000 spectators in just 15 months ahead of the World Cup. After the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack and Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, this international stadium has been built in a place other than the state capital which has been giving its best contribution to hockey in the state and the country since long. Hockey is not just a game but a way of life for the people of Sundargarh. The state-of-the-art hockey stadium in Rourkela will further contribute in the promotion of hockey. A whopping Rs 261 crore has been spent to construct the modern Stadium that has all facilities for the players and the officials who will converge at this mega event.
Back in February 2021, when it was announced that Rourkela would be another host city along with Bhubaneswar for the Hockey World Cup, everyone was elated with great enthusiasm and excitement. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik laid the foundation stone for the construction of this stadium. However, the COVID-19 pandemic had adversely affected the construction works. At once, it seemed that building an international stadium under the threat of COVID-19 pandemic was a herculean task. But, Odisha under the leadership of Naveen Patnaik, has always emerged as champion in the fight against disasters. The stadium was built in just 15 months.
It is the commitment of the Government of Odisha led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to promote Hockey at the world level which has helped the game revive in the recent times.
Odisha’s wholehearted support to Hockey is helping it to get back its past glory not only in the country but also internationally. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who has an inclination towards development of sports and games for prosperity and progress, has transformed Odisha into the Sports Capital of the country today.