Odisha Govt To Host Events In Slum & Non-Slum Areas During Hockey World Cup 2023

Bhubaneswar: To inspire urban youth and inculcate sports culture in them, the Odisha government is planning to host a number of activities and events in urban slums and non-slum areas during the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup.

According to sources, public viewing arrangements will be made in each slum and the events will be organised in four municipalities, two NACs, and in all wards of municipal corporations in case of non-slum areas.

A special ‘gram sabha’ will be organised on the inaugural day of the championship on January 11. The events will also be held in urban local bodies:

• Opening ceremony day, the first India match on January 13,
• On dates when India matches have been scheduled (as of now on January 15, and January 19)
• On the closing ceremony on January 29

Parichaya centres, Mission Shakti gruha, public buildings, or community centres will be preferably used for organising the events. The maximum overall ceiling of participants will be 100 per programme in slum areas and 250 for non-slum areas. An estimated Rs 10,000 has been approved for each programme.

Principal secretary of Housing and Urban Development department G Mathi Vathanan has asked all collectors, municipal commissioners and executive officers to organise events in all slum and non-slum areas in all ULBs to facilitate youth and other local inhabitants to witness and be a part of the international tournament.

What will be done during the events?

• Participants in the events will be sensitised about health, hygiene, cleanliness, various government schemes, and key urban initiatives.
• Mission Shakti groups will be roped in for managing the events.
• Women and Child Development department has planned to decorate childcare institutions with replicas of World Cup mascot Olly, balloons, and cut-outs of hockey legends along with proper lighting arrangements.
• CCIs and women’s homes will have essay writing, debate, drawing, painting and quiz competitions on the role of Odisha in the promotion of hockey.

“Odisha is a proud host of World Cup hockey for the second time. This is a great opportunity to inspire the urban youth to inculcate a sense of sportsmanship and help in creating sports culture which will promote sports talents in the urban areas,” TNIE reported Principal secretary of Housing and Urban Development department G Mathi Vathanan as saying.

Notably, the opening ceremony and all matches will be telecast in all Child Care Institutions (CCIs), including observation homes, women’s homes, and working women hostels.