With the start of July, the tick-tock of 22nd Asian Athletics Championships (AAC), which will be held in Kalinga Stadium here, has begun. The Odisha Government is organising the mega sporting event which will witness action from athletes of 45 countries.
The Herculean task of ensuring the smooth passage of the AAC is not only on the shoulders of officials, but also on the volunteers. The National Cadet Corps (NCC) has been roped in along with students of the city based private colleges to volunteer during the event.
On Saturday, at least 200 cadets of NCC, including of flying squadron and army, attended a mini-camp in the Kalinga Stadium here.
NCC officer RK Pandey told that 200 cadets will volunteer during the event. “There are 100 male cadets and 100 female cadets, who will volunteer during the entire event,” he said.
Flying squadron officer Mihir Saran told that they briefed the cadets about the possible responsibilities they will have to undertake during the event. “The NCC cadets are much disciplined for which they have been asked to volunteer during the event. The volunteers will be present even one day after the event is over,” he said.
On being asked where the cadets will be stationed, Saran said they will discuss this with the higher officials soon.
Similarly, the KIIT varsity officials also held a briefing session with their students, who will volunteer during the event, on Saturday morning in the Kalinga Stadium.
KIIT University Sports Director Dr Gaganendu Das said at least 220 students will volunteer during the event. “The students of KIIT University, including KIIMS, will volunteer during the event. While 180 students will be involved in volunteering, 40 students of KIIMS will assist the medical team which will conduct doping and other tests during the event,” he added. The Government is also working on certain prerequisites ahead of the mega sporting event. Officials said around four electric cars are ready in the stadium for transporting the differently-abled relatives of the athletes.