We are planning to set up a Sports City in Bhubaneswar with world-class infrastructure. Besides, integrated sports complexes have also been planned to be established in major cities of Cuttack, Brahmapur, Sambalpur, Rourkela and Jeypore with an initial outlay of Rs 96 crore under SWARNA scheme,” said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik while conferring Biju Patnaik Sports Award at a function held here on the National Sports Day on Tuesday.
Patnaik said an additional funding of Rs 15 lakh each would be provided to 150 block-level mini stadiums to develop them as Krida Vikash Kendras.
He said, “The Odisha State Youth Policy has been considered as a best policy for youths in the country; and building upon this policy, we will be launching a new scheme, namely, Biju Sashaktikaran Yojana on youth connect and engagement to reach out to youths across the State.”
Hosting the Asian Athletics Championship has catalysed emergence of Odisha as a sports powerhouse in the making, added Patnaik.
The CM congratulated all the distinguished awardees on their achievements in the fields of sports and social service.
On the occasion, several eminent sportspersons like Panchanan Gantayat, Hari Prasad Pattanayak, ace sprinter Dutee Chand, Sanhita Das, Ashok Kumar Panda, Hari Chandra Hial and Mohan Garada who save five children form river Jhanjabati, Meera Parida and others were conferred with the Biju Patnaik Sports Award.
Among others, Sports Minister Chandra Sarathi Behera and Sports Secretary Vishal Dev and Director Vineel Krishna were present.