Bhubaneswar: December 22: Odisha Forest Sports Meet-2018 has been inaugurated by Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi with hoisting of Sports Flag at international Kalinga Stadium here today morning. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Sri Padhi said Bhubaneswar has been designated as Sports Capital by the State and Government is committed to promote various types of sports from Panchayat to International level events. Sri Padhi added, “sports and games while promoting team spirit and healthy competitiveness also increases health consciousness”. Sports works as an incitement to many good habits of life. Chief Secretary further said that “State Government has decided to set up High Performance Sports Academy” at Bhubaneswar. It will have High Performance Sports Centers in 9 different types of sports. Steps are being expedited to start operation of the Centers from coming financial year.
Joining the occasion as Guest of Honor, Additional Chief Secretary Forest & Environment Sri Suresh Chandra Mohapatra appreciated the sporting spirit of the Forest department officers from the level of Forest Guard to CCF who along with their regular official duties have excelled in various areas of sports and athletics. Sri Mohapatra said “ Odisha Forest Officers have proved their excellence by wining one Gold, two Silver and seven Bronze medals in 23rd All India Forest Sports Meet ( AIFSM) held at Hyderabad in the year 2017”. Besides, Odisha Forest Officers also occupied 4th position in other 12 items. He expressed the confidence that Odisha Forest officers would scale up their achievements in the forth coming AIFSM scheduled to be held at Rayapur during January, 2019.
Speaking on the occasion, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and HoFF Dr Debabrata Swain said 4 Zonal level sports meets were organized in 4 forest divisions like Angul, Berhampur, Sambalpur and Koraput. during November, 2017 and November, 2018. Around 1200 sportsmen from among the forest officers participated in those meets. Four hundred participants selected from these Zonal Meets are now participating in the State Level Meet which will be organized for two days from 22nd to 23rd December. The Meet will have different events like athletics, swimming, weight lifting, cricket, hockey, football, tug of war, archery, basketball, volleyball, shooting, scorting, golf, billiards, tennis, carom, chess, power lifting etc. The winners will be awarded at the State level and the participants for AIFSM will be selected on the basis of their performance and scoring level.
Secretary Odisha Forest Sports Association Smt Pusa Makro presented votes of thanks in the inaugural session. The Officers of various rank and files from Forest & Environment department along with the sports lovers and visitors attended the inaugural session.
