Odisha To Launch Build-Up Campaign From Aug 29 To Promote Men’s Hockey World Cup

Bhubaneswar: To promote the upcoming Men’s Hockey World Cup, the Odisha government has decided to launch a build-up campaign in 17 cities from August 29.

“The campaign will travel to Bhubaneswar, Rourkela, Mumbai and New Delhi, among other, with the participation of a number of internationally-acclaimed celebrities for promotion of the mega event,” Sports secretary Vishal Dev informed on Tuesday.

A 360 degree nation-wide publicity campaign, ‘Heartbeats for Hockey’, was earlier launched in an attempt to showcase Bhubaneswar as a sporting venue and Odisha as a tourist destination. Ads were put up on buses in London with the tagline ‘Odisha by Morning, Hockey by Evening’.

A total of 36 matches will be played at Kalinga Stadium here during the 19-day tournament between November 28 and December 16.

For the smooth conduct of the 14th edition of the world cup which Odisha will be hosting for the first time, Twin City Police Commissioner Satyajit Mohanty stressed convergence between the police and all departments of the state government.

Following the second review meeting on security arrangements for the event convened by the Home Department here, he said, “As many as 70-80 platoons of police will be deployed during the event and each team will have a personal security officer. The security arrangements will be made as per protocol.”

The first review meeting on security arrangements for the Hockey World Cup was held under the chairmanship of DGP Rajendra Prasad Sharma on August 19.

During the meeting, matters pertaining to traffic and parking arrangements were also discussed.

More than 30, 000 international players and foreign tourists are expected to visit the Odisha capital during this period.