Bhubaneswar: With the date for Junior Men’s Hockey World Cup, 2021 closing in, chief secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra on Wednesday directed the departments concerned to complete all the arrangements before time.
Reviewing the preparations at a high-level meeting, here on digital mode, Mahapatra took stock of the progress made by the departments of works, IDCO, police, fire service, health & family welfare, handloom and textiles, tourism, housing and urban development and energy. He directed to ensure seamless live telecast and display on large screens of BMC in the city.
Participating in the meeting, secretary, Sports and Youth Services Veneel Krishna said the grand sports event will be held for 12 days from November 24 to December 5 at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar. Top 16 teams of the world would participate in the event.
The tournament would be played in four pools with quarter finals, semi finals and finals. In total, 48 matches would be played during the tournament. The schedule includes 5 matches per day from November 24 to 27 and 4 matches per day from November 28 to December 5.
The teams from Belgium, Malaysia, South Africa, and Chile would play in Pool-A; India, Canada, France and Poland would play in Pool-B; Netherland, Spain, Korea and United States would be in Pool-C and Germany, Argentina, Pakistan and Egypt would be in Pool-D. Approximately 600 players and officials would participate in the event.
The issues relating to travel and accommodation of the teams, their local transport, arrival, catering, security, development of stadium, practice ground, main hockey ground, venue operation, traffic, fire safety, covid test, health and medical care, internet connectivity etc were discussed at the meeting.
In view of the COVID protocols, spectators would not be allowed inside the stadium.
