Odisha bags ‘State of the Year Award’ for promoting sports

Mumbai: Odisha has bagged the ‘State of the Year Award’ for promoting sports. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen received the award from World Champion Viswanathan Anand at a special function here on Thursday.

Speaking on the occasion Patnaik said passion to win a game will make you a winner but passion for the game will make you an icon.

“In sports and politics you need passion to succeed. Passion to win makes a winner, passion for game make an icon. Similarly, passion for power wins elections while passion to serve wins people. Without competitive spirit, great achievements aren’t possible,” he added.

“Politics is not very different from Sports. We have to run, duck, jump, catch and sprint. Sometimes you don’t even know which direction you are running. Sometimes you throw and sometimes you are thrown out. Both in sports and politics, you need passion to succeed,” said Naveen.

“Investment in sports is an investment in youth. And, investment in youth is the investment in the future. Involvement of States is important for sports development. If States adopt games, it will benefit the sports ecosystem & broaden catchment for sports talent,” he added.

The Chief Minister urged all the states to adopt one or two games for development of sports in the country.

“If states start adopting one or two games; it will hugely benefit the sports ecosystem in the country. Only when states are involved, we can broaden the catchment of sports talents,” said Naveen.