BHUBANESWAR 18-Sep-2013 701
A four-member Hockey India (HI) technical team, headed by its CEO Elena Norman, found the newly-constructed hockey stadium here an ideal venue to stage international and Hockey India League (HIL) matches from next year. ``We were here to assess the facilities available in the new stadium. We found the infrastructure facility, including the blue-&-pink synthetic turf, ideal for international matches. A few more additions such as medical centre, media centre and broadcasting centre are needed to be put in place,`` said Norman after inspecting the facilities, which is a part of the multi-discipline Kalinga Stadium.
Accompanied by HI Competitions Director Todd Faulds, commercial partner Twenty First Century Media`s executive vice-president Vidur Naik and AB Sports representative Gaurav Bahal, the Hockey India CEO took a detailed note of the state government-owned hockey stadium, which was inaugurated earlier this year in July.
The HI team also spoke to the government sports authorities, Hockey Odisha general secretary Pratap Satpathy and hockey Olympian Dilip Tirkey, a Rajya Sabha Member and the president of newly formed Hockey Gangpur (Odisha).
Speaking to mediapersons, Norman revealed that a technical team from International Hockey Federation (FIH) would inspect the hockey stadium next month to explore the possibility of conducting international matches.
According to VVSN Rao, the infrastructure consultant of Odisha Council of Sports, the advisory body of State Sports Department, the state government would provide all the infrastructure facility for the conduct international matches in the hockey stadium.
``For staging of some matches of the 2nd Hockey Indian League in January-February next year, the stadium will be fully ready with the installation of floodlights by the end of December,`` he said. He also revealed that another synthetic turf would be added to the stadium so that it can stage Champions Trophy and World Cup matches as well.
``Other infrastructure facilities, including the second artificial turf would be added by May next year. The state government is keen to make the hockey stadium competent to stage 2014 Champions Trophy and 2018 World Cup matches,`` said Rao.
Asked whether the state government take any fees for the use of the stadium, Rao said it would be a give-and-take understanding. ``If Hockey India does not ask for guarantee money to allot international maches, the state government will not take any user fee for the purpose,`` he explained.
TCM vice-president Naik expected Bhubaneswar to be a new hub of international hockey. ``Odisha is well-known as a leading nursery of Indian hockey. After the coming up of the new stadium, Bhubaneswar is going to be the new destination of international hockey,`` he opined.
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PHOTO: Elena Norman (Right) with Dilip Tirkey (Centre) and Todd Faulds in Bhubaneswar on Sept 18, 2013.
