Bhubaneswar: Eminent sports administrator and Congress’ Rajya Sabha MP Ranjib Biswal said that sports events adds to economic growth of a state or nation. Stating that a survey was conducted to know the impact of IPL on the local economy, he said that the IPL matches contributed about 3% to the the economic growth of the city where it was hosted.
“The hosting of Athletic Championship in Bhubaneswar helped the state to showcase its industrial potential besides the art, culture, tourism and sports,” he said adding, the Sports plays a pivotal role in contributing towards the economic development of a country.
The state sports & youth services secretary, Vishal K Dev, Wednesday said the state government hosted the Asian Athletic Championship with a view to project the state at the international arena. Stating that the state is introducing sports as a practical course in the primary education level, he said this is aimed at creating more sports personal in future. He also said that the govt. is taking all possible steps to create adequate infrastructure to provide training to the young budding sports persons.
Biswal and Dev were speaking at Ideate-2017 -Sports for Developoment-Education & Life Skill, organised by Bansidhar & Ila Panda Foundation(BIPF) in partnership with FICCI Odisha , here on Wednesday.
After the key note address of Biswal a panel discussion was anchored by associate editor(sports) of CNN IBN Meha Bhardwaj. Among the eminent panelists who are present in panel discussion were programme director of Anathapur (Andhra Pradesh)based rural development trust Moncho Ferrer, and CEO of Nagpur based Slum Soccer- krida vikas sanstha, Abhijit Barse besides Biswal and Dev . International women Indian karate player Valena Valentina shared her journey in sports with audiences.
BIPF CEO Shaifalika Panda said “Sports programs should be inclusive and designed to give priority to issues of social development. A well implemented sports development program introduced in early school years can be a low cost venture with significant benefits for social inclusion, empowerment, addressing inequities and promoting life skills.”
