Odisha signs pact with Reliance, JSW, 4 other firms to promote sports

These leading industrialists signed the pacts for sponsoring different sporting disciplines like badminton, football, and swimming

Odisha, which is vying for the tag of 'sports capital' for Bhubaneswar, has tapped major corporates to nurture sporting talent and bolster the sports ecosystem in the state.

The state sports & youth affairs department has signed seven Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with leading corporate houses like Reliance Industries, JSW Group, Dalmia Bharat, Ahluwalia Group, Aditya Birla Group and Tata Group. The objective is to promote sports culture and boost different sporting disciplines.

The sports are sponsored by the industries who have their own foundation for youth sports. While athletics will be supported by Reliance Industries Group, Sajjan Jindal led JSW group will take up football and swimming, Dalmia Bharat Group will support nurturing talents in badminton. Similarly, weightlifting will be sponsored by Ahluwalia Group and shooting by Aditya Birla Group. Hockey will be sponsored by Tata Group.

In a special event named ‘Sports in Odisha’, these leading industrialists signed the pacts for sponsoring respective sporting disciplines.

“It is great day not just for the state but for the country as well. This move was long overdue in order to fully develop the quality of sport and sportsmen in the country. By signing these MoUs, we have built a framework which will work towards sporting education, talent identification at grass root levels and infrastructural development at a global level", Vishal Kumar Dev, secretary, sports & youth services said.

Commenting on the signing of the MoUs chief minister Naveen Patnaik said, “The signing of this MoU has created a long-lasting partnership which will result in producing sportspersons of world standards. But this partnership is more than just giving grants and funds, it will focus on extending the outreach of every sport in India.”