OdishaPlus Bureau
With the country eying big for the 2024 Olympics, the Union Government has requested State Government to adopt ‘one game’ for the forthcoming international event.
The Union Department of Sports has approached the State Government, which has scaled up its sports activities in its bid to make Odisha the ‘sports capital of the country’.
Union Sports Secretary Radhey Shyam Julaniya has informed the State Government about the Union Government’s move and urged the State Government to be ready to adopt a sports event for the 2024 Olympics.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who recently reviewed the preparedness of the country for 2020 Olympics advised that the country should follow ‘one state one game’ principle for bringing excellence in Sports.
The move is to make one State proficient in a single sports event in which, it possesses special attitude and work seriously towards getting an Olympic Gold Medal for the event.
According to experts, it takes at least eight years for an athlete to train and attain excellence at the international level to win an Olympic medal. The ‘one state one sports’ principle aims at developing a State in a particular Olympic discipline for winning an Olympic medal.
The Union Government is ready to provide coaching, technical assistance, arranging competitions and organize exposure visits of the athletes.
However, the State Government will have to take the lead and chose one sport, said the experts.The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has prepared a list of sports such as hockey, archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, table tennis, wrestling, weightlifting, cycling, judo, rowing, fencing, and swimming.
The State authorities will have to opt for any one discipline. But the State Government will have to send a proposal to the Centre for three disciplines from among which one will be chosen looking at the existing sports infrastructure, past performance and popularity of the game in the State.
Notably, Odisha has scaled up its sports activities since 2013. With world-class facilities available in Kalinga Stadium, the State hosted 2018 FIH World Cup and has been chosen for the 2023 version of the event.
Considering Odisha’s preparedness for organizing a world-class sports event, the State Government will decide on one discipline and work towards getting an Olympic Gold for the same, said an official.