Odisha grooves promoting Hockey World Cup, attracts industrialists by signing MoUs bolstering sports

Bhubaneswar, November 13: With the state of Odisha gearing up to conduct the Hockey World Cup coming by the month end, the state has already set the stage ready by hosting the largest conclave attracting industrialists.

 

India’s seven leading industrialists signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) to help promote the sports culture in the state. The move effectively means the industry captains will sponsor respective sporting disciplines.

Adding to the list of industrialists pitching for Odisha are, Reliance Industries Group who adopted athletics, while football and swimming were taken by JSW Group. Badminton was taken over by Dalmia Bharat Group, weightlifting by Ahluwalia Group, shooting by Aditya Birla Group, and hockey by Tata Group.

The move promises world-class training facilities for upcoming athletes, and is aimed to nurture sporting talent from across the country. The World Cup trophy was also unveiled at the event by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik amid thundering applause by a sellout crowd at the Kalinga Stadium.

Commenting on the signing of the MoUs, the chief minister said, "The signing of this MOU has created a long-lasting partnership which will result in producing sportspersons of world standards. But this partnership is more than just giving grants and funds, it will focus on extending the outreach of every sport in India.”

The initiative has taken the glee in making a great step towards promoting sports. By signing this MOU's India has built a framework which will work towards sporting education, talent identification at grass root levels and infrastructural development at a global level.