Bhubaneswar, July 10: The sports department is chalking out a detailed plan to make use of the infrastructure developed for the 22nd Asian Athletics Championship that ended yesterday.
In the first phase, the sports department has contacted several senior athletes practising in other states to come and use the facility.
Though chief minister Naveen Patnaik earlier announced that the stadium would be converted into a high-performance centre for athletics, the sports department plans to use the infrastructure through all possible means. The chief minister had yesterday also announced plans to set up Kalinga International Sports City in the city to enable the state government to bid for international events such as Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.
"We also plan to ask policemen involved in sports to practice at the stadium. The equipment procured during the event should be maintained and used in a proper manner. Our athletes will definitely benefit from the infrastructure," said a sports department official.
While the old synthetic track in the main stadium was re-laid for the international event, another track was laid for practice near the main stadium.
As many as 40 new rooms with advanced equipment were also built for the mega event. A modern gymnasium was also built.
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and Athletics Federation of India (AFI) have expressed happiness over the completion of infrastructure after Ranchi pulled out of hosting the event at the last moment.
Both sporting bodies have praised the infrastructure as being world class.
Stadium in charge Barija Mohanty said a meeting would be convened in the next two or three days to chalk out the detailed plan for best possible use of the infrastructure.
"All teams expressed happiness over the infrastructure developed for the championship. The China and Pakistan teams were extremely happy with the infrastructure," said Mohanty.
The sports complex, with a built-in area of 60 acres, is a multipurpose stadium with facilities for hockey, football, swimming, tennis, basketball and athletics.
