Bhubaneswar, April 17: The state government has estimated that hosting the Asian Athletics Championship in the state capital will cost it around Rs 43 crore.
The estimate was decided at a meeting of the organising body of the management committee with officials of the sports department at the state secretariat today.
The championship will be held for four days between July 6 and 9 at Kalinga Stadium here.
Sports officials said detailed discussions related to the stadium's infrastructure development, accommodation and transportation facilities for athletes and security arrangements figured prominently during the meeting. Sports minister Sudam Marandi, Union sports secretary Injeti Srinivas, state sports secretary Vishal Dev and Athletics Federation of India president Adille Sumariwalla attended the meeting.
"We will reserve more than 800 rooms in 21 city hotels for the athletes, sports administrators, coaches and officials. The Odisha Tourism Development Corporation has been assigned the task of transportation," said Dev.
More than 700 athletes from 45 countries will take part in 42 events (21 for men and 21 for women). The winners will directly qualify for the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in London between August 4 and 13.
Sports minister Marandi assured that the government would provide all support to make the event a success. "The state government will take up a big campaign to create enthusiasm among youths to be a part of the event. The championship will encourage athletes from the state as well," he said.
The members of the management committee also discussed timely completion of infrastructure development at the venue.
The authorities concerned have expedited works such as relaying of the synthetic track at the main stadium, construction of a synthetic warm up track, installation of floodlights and other associated electrical works.
"Our focus will be on the relaying of synthetic track and installation of floodlights. The progress of both the works is satisfactory and we hope to complete the job much before the scheduled time," said an official of the sports department.
This will be the third time that India would host the Asian Athletics Championships. New Delhi was the first Indian city to host the event in 1989 followed by Pune in 2013.
