Bhubaneswar: June 10:Sports are not limited only to medals, records, victories, or defeats; rather, they teach discipline, teamwork, and the courage to face adverse situations in life, said Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi while attending the closing ceremony of the two-day “Chintan Shivir” organized by the Sports and Youth Services Department as the chief guest.
The Chief Minister stated that this program, organized for the first time in Odisha, would play a major role in preparing a comprehensive roadmap and framework for the future development of sports in the state. It is noteworthy that national and international sports experts, administrators, and athletes participated in the event organized by the state Sports Department since yesterday and discussed sports development in Odisha.
The Chief Minister said that Odisha has now earned global recognition by successfully hosting national and international sporting events. He informed that the state will host the World Athletics and the Asian Indoor Athletics Championship in 2028. While Odisha successfully hosted the “World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze” event last year, the Silver-level competition of the same event will be organized in Odisha this year.
He further announced that steps have been taken to establish a multi-purpose sports complex at Gothapatna with an investment of nearly ₹1,000 crore.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister emphasized that without sports development, the growth of youth talent is impossible. He stated that to strengthen sports infrastructure at the grassroots level, modern multi-purpose stadiums are being constructed at the block level with an investment exceeding ₹4,000 crore. Along with this, emerging talents from rural areas are being identified through the “Chief Minister’s Trophy” and provided advanced training.
He further said that sports will play a major role in achieving the goal of making Odisha prosperous by 2036 and becoming the “growth engine” of a developed India by 2047. In the coming days, Odisha will not only be recognized as a major host state for sports events, but it will also become common to see Odia athletes featured among world champions, the Chief Minister expressed with confidence.
At the event, Sports and Youth Services Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said that although today’s discussions are taking place in air-conditioned rooms, their implementation will happen under the scorching 40-degree heat. He remarked that hidden talents from remote areas will no longer fade away unnoticed; instead, the time has come for them to shine on the global stage.
The program was attended by Padma Shri awardee and Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey, Commissioner-cum-Secretary Bhupendra Singh Poonia, Sports Director Dr. Yedula Vijay, along with sports experts, administrators, and athletes.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Additional Secretary Vijay Kumar Swain.
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