Fact Check: Is Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium In Rourkela Biggest In World?

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday inaugurated Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium at Rourkela city in Odisha’s Sundargarh district, claiming that it was the biggest hockey stadium in the world.

Naveen, in a tweet, said, “Birsa Munda Stadium, world’s biggest hockey stadium is now a reality in just 15 months. Congratulate everyone who worked tirelessly to turn the grand vision, a reality. I am sure it will emerge as the best venue for field hockey in the world.”

Before its inauguration, the Odisha government has been campaigning that Birsa Munda Stadium with a seating capacity of 20,000 would be the biggest hockey stadium in the world.

But the official website of the Olympics Games, olympics.com mentions differently. According to it, Birsa Munda Stadium is the fourth largest in the world.

While National Hockey Stadium at Lahore in Pakistan is the biggest in the world with a seating capacity of 45,000, it is followed by Chandigarh hockey stadium with 30,000 capacity, Weingart stadium at Los Angeles in USA with 22,355 and Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium with 20,000 capacity.