Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has chaired a multi-stakeholder meeting at the Lok Seva Bhawan Convention Center to ensure that the upcoming 2023 Men’s Hockey World Cup to be hosted by Odisha will be a resounding success. Chairing the meeting, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik requested cooperation from all political parties to make the sports festival a success in Odisha.

The Chief Minister announced that the Chief Ministers of all the states would be invited to participate in the 2023 World Hockey Cup program. The Chief Minister thanked the Government of India, especially the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, for the central government’s cooperation in preparations for the Hockey World Cup. The honor of Odisha and the entire nation is involved in organizing the World Hockey Cup. That’s why the Prime Minister asked everyone to cooperate. Leaders of various political parties took part in the discussion and expressed their appreciation for the government’s efforts in fostering sports, saying that hosting the World Cup for the second time in a row had boosted Odisha’s reputation in the world.

Unity Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan commended the state government for such an arrangement and voiced his opinion that everyone should work together to see 100 Olympians come out of Odisha on the occasion of the centenary celebration of the establishment of the separate province of Odisha in 2036. This, including rare events like hosting home of hockey world cup twice in a row in school curriculum, engage citizens for Bhubaneswar-Rourkela cleanliness, promote local sports, mark Rourkela-Bhubaneswar railway for hockey etc. by providing all kinds of central government support.

Unity Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, “Sport is a priority part of Prime Minister Modi’s government. I am very happy that Odisha is hosting the World Hockey Cup in a row for the second time. The Chief Minister of Odisha invited us all to the meeting. I thought of this kind of event on the sidelines when India presided over the G-20. It is a happy coincidence that we are hosting the International Hockey World Cup. India has ambitions to sponsor and host the Olympics in this direction. This year’s hockey tournament was a big step forward. I wish this event every success. This year, the United Nations has recognized India’s request as the year of the millet. I asked the Chief Minister of Odisha to order millet dishes for international guests so that the year of millet is vindicated.”

MLA Congress party leader Narsingh Mishra said he proposed building hockey stadiums in all districts of the state. Among others, Deputy Chairperson of Congress Party, Mr. Santosh Singh Saluja, Deputy Chairperson of Biju Janata Party, Prasanna Acharya and Devi Prasad Mishra, BJD Organizational Secretary, Pranab Prakash Das, BJP State Chair, Sameer Mohanty, CPI chairman, Ramakrishna Panda, Cong MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati, MLA. Laxman Munda, Alikishore Patnaik. Abhay Sahu, Chairman of the State Socialist Party Ravi Behera, AAP State Chairman Nishikant Mahapatra and RJD Chairman Hemant Kumar attended the meeting and shared their deep views.

BJD Deputy President Prasanna Acharya said “everyone expressed their joy that the Chief Minister had a multi-party meeting. Various political parties took part in the multiparty meeting and expressed their views. Everyone prays to Jagannath for the success of Hoki’s organization. World Cup. If hockey is successfully held in the state, Odisha’s fame will increase not only in the state but also in the world”

“All my best wishes for the successful holding of the World Hockey Cup in Odisha. Thanks to the Prime Minister for organizing this world hockey cup. Since the World Cup of Hockey has been held for the second time, there have been discussions on how to organize it well. Everyone is happy with the preparations so far,” said Congressman Santosh Singh Saluja.

Preparations for the major sporting event have reached its final stages and efforts are being made to ensure that hockey fans and tourists from around the world are treated well during the event every four years. Matches will be played at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar and Birsa Munda International Stadium in Rourkela from 13 to 29 January 2023.

This is the second time in a row that Odisha is hosting the event. While Cuttack will host a star-studded opening ceremony, there will be entertainment sessions in four other cities namely Bhubaneswar, Rourkela, Berhampur and Sambalpur.

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