The Business Bytes
THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, JUNE 10, 2025
In a country where sporting aspirations often remain confined to metropolitan hubs and elite academies, Odisha is charting a bold, inclusive path — one that is deeply rooted in its villages, tribal regions, and small towns. Over the past year, the Government of Odisha has launched a transformative grassroots sports development initiative that combines infrastructure, opportunity, and inclusivity to ensure that every block in the state becomes a potential nursery for future champions.
Bringing Sports to Every Doorstep
With the aim of decentralizing access to sporting opportunities, the Odisha Government is implementing a doorstep sports facility model. This approach ensures that young athletes can access quality infrastructure and training without having to migrate far from their communities. By reducing logistical and economic barriers, the initiative not only nurtures local talent but also empowers children to dream big while staying rooted in their culture and surroundings. It is democratizing sports in the truest sense — enabling access regardless of geography or socioeconomic background.
Investing in Infrastructure across 314 Blocks
One of the most ambitious components of this mission is the allocation of ₹14.5 crore for each of the state’s 314 blocks to create, upgrade, and maintain sports infrastructure. These investments include the development of multi-sport facilities, training centers, and arenas that cater to both Olympic and indigenous sports. This ensures equitable distribution of resources and establishes a level playing field across districts.
Further amplifying this effort, the government has sanctioned a ₹4,124 crore project to construct stadiums in every block over the next five years. Each stadium, spread across 8 to 10 acres, will feature comprehensive facilities including football or cricket fields, clay athletics tracks with dedicated zones for throws and jumps, and courts for volleyball, kho-kho, and kabaddi. Indoor halls for badminton and table tennis, along with a common facility center, are also part of the blueprint. The project focuses on core sporting disciplines where Odisha has historically shown strong potential.
Ensuring Sustainability through Community Governance
Understanding that infrastructure alone is insufficient, the government is taking proactive steps to ensure long-term sustainability and impact. Block-level committees are being established to manage operations and maintenance (O&M) of these facilities. These committees, comprising local stakeholders and sports officials, will oversee daily functioning, organize grassroots tournaments, and uphold quality standards. This community-driven governance model fosters a sense of ownership, accountability, and active participation — key elements for the success and longevity of the initiative.
Empowering Talent: Voices from the Ground
Rakesh Kumar Patra, National Coach with the Gymnastics Federation of India, praised Odisha’s world-class infrastructure during a national camp in Bhubaneswar. He highlighted how such facilities are empowering young athletes at the grassroots level, and commended the state’s commitment to nurturing talent from the block level upward — setting a new benchmark for inclusive sports development in India.
Animesh Kujur, who recently clinched a bronze medal at the Asian Athletics Championship, credited the state government’s initiatives for reshaping Odisha’s sports landscape. “Earlier, opportunities were mostly limited to athletes from big cities or elite academies. Now, athletes from small towns and villages have a real chance to compete at the highest level,” he said, calling the grassroots initiative “truly game-changing.”
The CM Trophy: A Launchpad for New Talent
Among the latest additions to Odisha’s sports ecosystem is Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s flagship project — the CM Trophy. Structured in three competitive phases — district, zonal, and state — the tournament offers a robust platform for young athletes to demonstrate their skills. Designed to foster a competitive sporting culture and uncover hidden talent at the block level, the CM Trophy is poised to become a key driver of talent scouting and youth engagement across the state.
A Model for the Nation
Odisha’s grassroots sports initiative is more than just a state policy — it is emerging as a national model for inclusive and equitable sports development. Through a holistic strategy that blends infrastructure investment, community involvement, structured competition, and forward-thinking governance, the state is redefining how sports can empower youth, bridge social divides, and strengthen communities.
With every block being transformed into a potential cradle for national and international talent, Odisha is not just building stadiums — it is building a future where dreams born in remote corners of the state can thrive on the world stage.
