[Watch] UK Celebrates Commonwealth Day With Beach Volleyball Match In Odisha’s Puri

Puri: The British Deputy High Commission, Kolkata, commemorated the Commonwealth Day 2022 with a friendly beach volleyball match at the Blue Flag Beach, here.

The event was organised in joint collaboration with Sports & Youth Services Department and Puri district administration on Sunday.

British Deputy High Commissioner to East and Northeast India, Nick Low kicked off the friendly beach volleyball match along with District Collector Samarth Verma.

A joint team of ‘UK in Kolkata’ played against ‘Odisha Sports’ in the match. Team ‘Odisha Sports’ won the match.

Speaking on the occasion, Low said “I’m delighted to return to Odisha, where I will renew old friendships and make new ones. Celebrating Commonwealth Day in Puri and Bhubaneswar as we look forward to the XXII Commonwealth Games Birmingham 2022. Odisha’s passion for sport shone through at the brilliant FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup and when Odisha hosted the Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay in January. The four nations of the United Kingdom share that passion. I want sport and sports industry to be at the heart of our UK-Odisha relationship.”

Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Sports & Youth Services Department, R Vineel Krishna said “It is an honour for us and we are extremely delighted to partner with the British Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, once again, and celebrate the spirit of the Commonwealth Games. It is our shared vision to promote sports and we look forward to collectively working towards it in many spheres.”

After the match, Low visited the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) cemetery in Puri to lay a wreath. Commonwealth Day will be observed on March 14.

The UK is currently Chair-in-Office of the Commonwealth, and UK in India network will mark Commonwealth Day with a series of events across India including receptions and a model CHOGM for students.

Commonwealth Games will be held in Birmingham from July 28 to August 8. This year’s Commonwealth Day also holds special significance for the UK, as we celebrate Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – a testament to the strength and longevity of the Commonwealth.