BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday said sport goes far beyond medals and records, stressing that it plays a crucial role in building discipline, teamwork, and resilience in facing adversity.
He was speaking at the valedictory session of the two-day ‘Chintan Shivir’ organised by the Sports and Youth Services Department, which brought together national and international sports experts, administrators, and athletes to chart a long-term development roadmap for Odisha’s sporting ecosystem.
In a post on X, Majhi said the deliberations would serve as a foundational framework for strengthening sports infrastructure and talent development in the state. He noted that the initiative, being held for the first time in Odisha, would help shape a structured and future-ready sports policy direction.
The CM said Odisha has already earned global recognition for successfully hosting several national and international sporting events. He added that the state will host the World Athletics Championships and the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in 2028.
Odisha will also host the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meet this year, after successfully organising the Bronze-level event last year.
He further announced that a multi-purpose sports complex will be developed at Gothapatna with an investment of around Rs 1,000 crore, aimed at enhancing high-performance sporting infrastructure.
Highlighting grassroots development, Majhi said the government is investing over Rs 4,000 crore in building modern multi-purpose stadiums at the block level to strengthen sports infrastructure across rural Odisha. He said talent identification will be intensified through the ‘Chief Minister Trophy’ initiative, under which promising athletes from rural areas will be selected and given advanced training.
He further said the state’s broader vision links sports development with Odisha’s long-term goals of becoming a prosperous state by 2036 and a key growth engine of a developed India by 2047.
He expressed confidence that Odisha will not only continue as a successful host of major sporting events but will also emerge as a consistent producer of world-class athletes on global platforms.
Sports and Youth Services Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said that while discussions may take place in controlled environments, their real impact will be felt on the ground under challenging conditions. He added that the goal is to ensure grassroots athletes rise to global stages.
Padma Shri and Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey, Chief Secretary-cum-Commissioner Bhupendra Singh Poonia, Sports Director Dr. Yedula Vijay, along with several sports experts, administrators and athletes attended the event.