BHUBANESWAR: Hockey India utilised ceremonies marking the one-year anniversary since the kick-off of the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018 to announce here Wednesday Bhubaneswar and Rourkela as the two venues for the 2023 Hockey Men’s World Cup.
On the occasion, FIH president Narinder Batra said: “On behalf of FIH, I would like to extend our sincerest thanks to the government of Odisha and Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha Shri Naveen Patnaik in particular for their great and permanent support to hockey over the years. This really is remarkable and contributes to grow our sport not only in India but in the world also. Our thanks also go to Hockey India for their dedication and efforts to put together an unforgettable event.”
The precision in which the Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018 was conducted, and the grandeur of the marquee event drew several accolades from the hockey fraternity worldwide. The unparalleled support by government of Odisha towards the development of hockey, their vision to provide state-of-the-art infrastructure like none other in the world, and the government’s willingness to invest in the event were some of the key reasons to name the state as the venue for the prestigious event in 2023.
Thierry Weil, CEO, FIH echoed Batra’s views while stating: “We are glad to come back to Odisha where everyone, from the fans to the teams and the officials, had such a great experience a year ago. Conscious of the costs generated by the organization of such world events, we think that using existing facilities – especially when they are of the quality of those provided in Bhubaneswar – is a real advantage. Also, the income-generation potential of the bid submitted by Hockey India will contribute to the development of hockey worldwide, which is the first mission of the International Hockey Federation. Furthermore, we will work closely with Hockey India on the sustainability and legacy aspects of the 2023 FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup.”
“When we decided to bid for the 2023 FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup, we had about five states that showed interest in hosting the coveted event in 2023. Having successfully hosted the 2018 Men’s World Cup here in Bhubaneswar, it was important for Hockey India to raise the bar further and ensure the next event is bigger and better than what world hockey saw in 2018. Hockey India shares an excellent working relationship with the government of Odisha whose vision for the sport aligns with ours. In terms of economics involved in hosting an event of this magnitude, government of Odisha’s support was unmatched and I am confident the world will witness yet another incredible World Cup in 2023,” stated Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad, president, Hockey India.
Patnaik also announced at the event that all 17 blocks of Sundargarh district – which is a talent nursery for hockey in India – would be equipped with synthetic pitches.
HIGH PERFORMANCE CENTRE AT KALINGA STADIUM
An ambitious Hockey Grassroots Program by Hockey India too was announced during the event, which will see the federation closely work with the Department of Sports and Youth Services, Government of Odisha for the development of the sport at the grassroots’ level. It was also announced that a permanent facility would be constructed near the practice pitch of the Kalinga Stadium for establishment of a full-fledged hockey high-performance centre.
Patnaik expressed his delight at Odisha hosting the 2023 edition of the tournament, “Odisha has always been the cradle of hockey, and with the successful organising of the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018, we showcased a very different side of our state. We have always had a very passionate crowd which supports the sport of hockey, and with the presence of world-class, top-of-the-line facilities in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela, it swells my heart with great pride that Odisha will once again be celebrating the festival of hockey when we host the FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup in January 2023.”
