BHUBANESWAR: Asia’s largest and most prestigious sports literature fest, the Ekamra Sports Literary Festival will take place in India for the first time ever this year as Odisha capital Bhubaneswar is set to host the event on 2-3 November, This Week India reports.
CM Naveen Patnaik will be inaugurating the festival, which will act as a precursor to the upcoming Men’s Hockey World Cup. Sports Minister Chandra Sarathi Behera and Commissioner-cum-Secretary Vishal Dev will also be present. The conclave will include 30 top-notch celebrity speakers amongst some of the biggest sports stars including athletes, players, coaches and sports writers from India and across the globe.
Yogeshwar Dutt, Neeraj Chopra, Dipa Karmakar, Vinesh Phogat, Mohammad Kaif and Akash Chopra will be some of the high-profile Indian names who will be gracing the event. Ben Johnson (the world-renowned former Canadian sprinter), Stephanie Rice (the Australian triple gold medallist swimmer at the Olympics 2008) and Jeff Thomson (former Australian fast bowler) are amongst the overseas dignitaries who have confirmed their presence.
The Odisha government’s Department of Sports & Youth Services will be joining hands with Emerging Sports to organise the event. Emerging Sports is an Indian sports event management company founded by Sundeep Misra who is also the founding editor-in-chief of Sports Illustrated India.
“The Sports Literary Festival phenomenon is a fairly recent one; but one whose time should have come much earlier. I have always dreamt of bringing together the finest minds in the world of sport and writing to Bhubaneswar to discuss their work, share their vision, hear diverse voices in a conducive and contemplative environment. And presently, I cannot think of any other city in India that combines the spirit of sportsmanship with the humanness of Odisha.” Misra was quoted as saying to This Week India.
“Ekamra Sports Literary Festival 2018 marks a new chapter in the history of Odisha, during its period of progression towards being the sports hub of the country. It is wonderful that such a prestigious event will be held as a run up to the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018 as a joint initiative of the Sports Department with Emerging Sports. ‘Ekamra’, the ancient name of our capital city Bhubaneswar is reminiscent of our rich culture, tradition and heritage and reflects the glory which will emanate from this mega international event. I thank the entire team for thinking of such a grand initiative and convey my best wishes for its success.” Sports Minister Chandra Behara said to the news agency.
