Bhubaneswar: Good news for sports enthusiasts as a high-performance academy will soon be set up in the Kalinga stadium here.
For the purpose, the state government signed an Expression of Intent (EOI) with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and Athletics Federation of India (AFI) here today. The EOI was signed by Sports Secretary Vishal Kumar Dev and AFI president Adille Sumariwala and IAAF president Lord Sebastian Coe in the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
To be named as Odisha-AFI-IAAF High Performance Academy, the centre will provide coaching, integrated support services and education to athletes and junior potential elite athletes of the state.
Sources said the state Sports and Youth Services Department will provide funds and make sure availability of necessary infrastructure and support services, including an outdoor stadium. Besides, the IAAF will assist in educating elite coaches and provide specialists. The AFI will assist in management of the academy and selection of the head of the Academy, Indian coaches, teachers and other staff.
“It will have a professional environment and approach to athletics and field events to provide excellent coaching and integrated sports services for the athletes,” an official of the concerned department said.
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