Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government will introduce a new sports policy very soon, Sports & Youth Services Minister Tusharkanti Behera informed the Assembly on Friday.
The new policy is now being drafted as per the guidelines of the National Sports Policy, the minister said during zero hour.
Participating in the discussion, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Narasingha Mishra urged the state government to formulate the new sports policy. He also demanded the setting up of a national-level sports stadium in each district headquarters.
BJD member Bhupinder Singh asked why the policy to boost sports activities in Odisha was not yet framed. He hoped that the state government will come up with the new policy very soon in consultation with sports associations and experts.
The minister replied that the state government, which has no specific sports policy as of now, is going to introduce a new sports policy very soon.
Stating that out of 47 sports events in the country, 40 events are conducted in Odisha, the minister alleged that the Centre was not providing adequate financial assistance for tournaments and other sporting events in the state.
Behera also informed that a detailed survey has been made to identify the number of players from Odisha participating in national and international events. The state government has provided employment to 96 sportspersons so far, he added.
