Bhubaneswar: While the preparations for the Hockey Men’s World Cup at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar are in the final stage, the guest list for the inaugural and closing ceremonies of the mega event has been finalized.
According to the Sports and Youth Affairs department, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Governor Prof Ganeshi Lal will be the chief guest at the inaugural and closing ceremonies respectively.
Apart from the Chief Minister, Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, president of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Narinder Batra and the Sports and Youth Affairs minister of Odisha, Chandra Sarathi Behera will be present during the inaugural ceremony at the Kalinga Stadium on November 27 while the Governor, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Union minister of state for Youth and Sports Affairs Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore will grace the closing ceremony on December 16.
Besides, the editors of the print, TV and electronic media, eminent Odias conferred with Padma award and senior officials of the companies tied up with the state government for the sports infrastructure development would be invited to the Man of the Match award-giving function at the end of the match.
While the state government has also invited legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar to the inaugural ceremony, there has been no confirmation by the latter till date.
Along with Shah Rukh Khan, famous Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit has also been invited to the mega event.
According to the schedule, Shah Rukh will arrive in Bhubaneswar in the morning on November 27 and will return to Mumbai that night after attending the inaugural ceremony at the Kalinga Stadium. On the other hand, Madhuri will make a night halt at the Hotel Mayfair on November 27 as she will participate in the cultural function at the stadium in the night.
Of the 16 teams participating in the mega event, four have already arrived in Bhubaneswar while the remaining will be in the city by Sunday evening.
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