Stairs, a non-profit organisation working to promote sports among underprivileged children in urban and rural areas, on Thursday announced to adopt a select number of sports and games in Odisha.
Stairs founder and secretary general Siddhartha Upadhyay during an interaction with mediapersons here said the organisation in the first phase has chosen hockey and football in the State and later it would adopt some more sports. Known for its Khelo Delhi, Khelo Himachal Pradesh, Khelo Uttar Pradesh and Khelo Haryana programmes, Stairs supports the hidden talents with sports kits and facilitates their grooming with acclaimed coaches and trainers.
“I feel that the power of sports is grossly underestimated in our society. I credit sports with teaching me the most valuable lessons of life. When we are on the field, and we lose, we learn to respect the winner, no matter what the caste, creed, or colour and we learn to respect your body, and become disciplined,” said Upadhyay.
He also announced that some local games of the State will be adopted. “We will offer a level playing field to the children by giving them access to sporting facilities and equipment to play free of cost. We appealed to those children interested in sports join our project and play,” said Upadhyay. Earlier on the day Upadhyay met Sports and Youth Services Minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi about his plan and programme.