43K Footballs To Be Distributed In Schools As Odisha Hosts FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup

Bhubaneswar: Ahead of FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday launched ‘Football For All’, an initiative under which over 43,000 footballs in 2000 schools across Odisha.

The programme has been initiated by FIFA in Odisha in partnership with KIIT & KISS and is the first of FIFA in India to promote the sport among school children.

Joining the programme on a virtual platform, the CM said that football is the most popular game and brings together people across the globe.

Hoping that these partnerships and initiatives will help football to grow in our country, he said, “We are quite focused on football development, especially women’s football. As a legacy of the World Cup, we will have good infrastructure and coaching programme.”

Saying that it’s a proud moment for Odisha to be the host venue for the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup, he said, “We have partnered with AIFF and FIFA to bring the best of football to the state. This World Cup will give a major boost towards the development of football in the state.”

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Host India – drawn alongside USA, Morocco and Brazil – will be playing all of its group-stage games at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on October 11, 14 and 17. The event will kick off at the venue with an opening ceremony and two matches.

The CM thanked FIFA for choosing Odisha for this programme and appreciated the role of Dr Achyuta Samanta and KIIT-KISS for bringing it to Odisha.

“The state is investing heavily in sports infra. FIFA partnership will help promote football at the school level,” said Sports Minister Tusharkanti Behera, while presenting footballs to students of Unit-9 girls High School and Capital High School Bhubaneswar.

MP and Founder of KIIT & KISS Dr Achyuta Samant said that the CM’s vision has helped in the development of a sports eco-system in Odisha. KIIT and KISs have been the logistics hub for this programme, he added.

Director of ‘Football For Schools’, FIFA, Fatimata Sow Sidbej appreciated the role of Chief Minister and Odisha Government in promotion of sports in Odisha.

Chief Secretary Suresh Mohapatra and Secretary to CM (5T) VK Pandian and other senior officers were present. While School & Mass Secretary Aswathy S gave the welcome address and Commissioner-cum-Secretary Sports Shri Vineel Krishna offered the vote of thanks.

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