Publicity campaign launched for Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup

Bhubaneswar: With less than four months to go for the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup, the state government has launched a 360-degree nation-wide publicity campaign to bring fans closer to the sport.

The Hockey World Cup is set to take centre-stage at the Kalinga Stadium here from November 28 to December 16.

The World Cup fever kicks-off with “Heartbeats for Hockey” a movement that attempts to get India behind hockey by way of music, entertainment, fashion, pure sport and panel discussions.

It was launched by unveiling the digital campaign starring the National Hockey Team urging people to pledge their support for the game, saying: “My heart beats for hockey, does yours?”

“We are asking India to give their heart to hockey. And this by way a nationwide outreach where we go to the heartlands of hockey and ask people to come and immortalise their heartbeats by recording them on a specially-designed hockey stick,” explained Nupur Mahajan, brand strategist and creator of the campaign who is working alongside Government of Odisha as Communication and Strategy Consultant for the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar2018.

“If your heart beats for hockey,” added Mahajan,“we urge you to give a few heartbeats to hockey. India’s collective heart beats, gathered over four months, will be presented to the 16 Captains of the World at the Opening Ceremony of the tournament, which is scheduled for November 27th.”

Each time anyone holds the custom-made hockey stick, named ‘Heart Beat’, they record their heart beat as a pledge to support hockey. Over the next few months, Heart Beat will travel across the country through the ‘Hockey Adda’, a curated on-ground discussion platform for hockey players and experts alike with youth in the audience.

Additionally, special ‘Heartbeat Canters’ will be sent across select cities in India, encouraging every sports lover to participate in an effort to gather as many heart beats as possible.

People will also have the opportunity to pledge a heartbeat at one of the many curated events that will unfold in the Build Up to the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018. At the Opening Ceremony as all the 16 Captains gather on stage they will be presented heart beats of the entire nation as a gesture of support for the game that says: India’s heart beats for hockey.

Elena Norman, CEO Hockey India, commented, “The trajectory of Hockey as a sport in India has attained a new high given the recent commendable performances of the Indian Hockey Teams. We urge one and all to come forward and support your hockey team during the upcoming Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018.”

The specially designed Hockey stick will be installed and made available at Hockey heartlands in select locations across 6 cities namely Chandigarh, Bangalore, Mumbai, Bhopal, Rourkela and Imphal.

Additionally, two permanent installations at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar will also be made accessible to the masses. The Heartbeat Canter will cover other Indian cities including Jalandhar, Lucknow, Ranchi, New Delhi, Chennai and many more.

The Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018 will be the 14th edition of the biggest tournament in Men’s Hockey and the third time that India will be hosting it after having organised it in 1982 in Bombay and in 2010 in New Delhi.

A total of sixteen nations will take part in the tournament which will see each team play three matches during the league stage over the span of twelve days before four cross-over matches take place on 10th and 11th December 2018.

The knockout matches will take place on 12th, 13th, 15th and 16th as the teams will look to become the Champions of the prestigious quadrennial event which was won by Australia in 2014.