New Delhi: Union Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Kiren Rijiju virtually inaugurated 8 Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCEs) across India in the presence of distinguished state ministers on Tuesday.
The states where KISCEs were launched are Odisha, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Kerala, Telangana, Nagaland and Karnataka.
Rijiju and Odisha Minister for Sports & Youth Services Tusharkanti Behera jointly unveiled the virtual foundation stone at the Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar.
“This is a very important beginning to develop sports culture and excellence in the country. The youth in India is looking for initiatives from the Central government and state governments. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said sports has to be a way of life for every Indian and the Centre wants to create basic facilities for everyone. The Khelo India State Centres of Excellence are being started in addition to the National Centres of Excellence,” Rijiju said.
The Union Minister reiterated the vision is to see India in top 10 in the Los Angeles Olympics 2028. “The Central and state governments have to work together and we will provide all necessary financial assistance for proper infrastructure and manpower, sports science, high quality training and so on. We cannot be satisfied with only 1-2 medals, we have to be in top 10 in 2028 Olympics,” he added.
The support to the KISCEs will be in the form of infrastructure upgradation, setting up of sports science centres and also soft component in the form of quality coaches and sports science human resources like physiotherapists, strength and conditioning experts. Those will also have High performance Manager to ensure quality of sports science input and performance management.
The KISCE at Kalinga Stadium has total area of 66 acre and will focus on Hockey, Weightlifting and Athletics.
Vishal Kumar Dev, Commissioner-cum-Secretary and R. Vineel Krishna, Director, Sports & Additional Secretary were also present from Odisha during the event along with international athlete Purnima Hembrum.
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