Sports Hostels Across Odisha To Remain Shut From April 19  

Bhubaneswar: In the wake of rising Covid-19 cases across Odisha, the Sports and Youth Services Department has decided to close its Sports Hostels across the State from April 19.

Sports hostels incharges have been asked to intimate parents, especially of lower- age boarders to take their wards home from the hostels. In case of any difficulty in the travel of boarders, the in-charge will facilitate their safe return to home.

“During the period of closure, Sports Hostel in-charge will be present at their respective hostels and utilise this period to curate and conduct sports-specific workshops and coach development programmes,” the department said in a statement.

“The health of all our sports hostel boarders is paramount and we will ensure they reach home safe and soon. Sports hostel in-charge will be in constant touch with their respective boarders and assist in their development through virtual modules and also keep enforcing the need for adherence to Covid 19 guidelines, even when they are away from the hostels,” Sports & Youth Services Minister Tusharkanti Behera was quoted as saying in the statement.

“Once the situation eases, they will be intimated much in advance and we will facilitate their return to the sports hostels, their home away from home,” he added.