Investment in sports investment in future: CM

(Surjit Kumar Dhal, Bhubaneswar, Feb 15): Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Thursday advised every state to invest in sports which is investment in youth. Accepting the award from leading Sports Magazine Sports Star in Mumbai in the evening, Patnaik said he believed that investment in youth was investment in the future. “I believe, Investment in sports is investment in youth and investment in youth is investment in the future. In this, the involvement of States is important for sports development in the country,” he said.

The Chief Minister said If states start adopting one or two games, it will hugely benefit the sports ecosystem in the country. “Only when states are involved, we can broaden the catchment for sports talent. We may not have to wait too long for the World to hear our National Anthem being played on the Olympic Stage,” Patnaik asserted. In a lighter vein he said, generally Ministers are used to giving away sports awards.

“Today you must have been surprised to see me getting one. Well, you see, politics is not very different from Sports. We have to Run, Duck, Jump, Catch, Sprint,” he said. Patnaik said, “Sometimes you don’t even know which direction you are running….Sometimes you throw and sometimes you are thrown out. ” He added, both in sports and politics, you need passion to succeed. In Sports passion to win a game will make you a winner. But passion for the game will make you an ICON. Similarly in politics passion for power will make you win elections.” Dedicating the award to four and half crore sports loving people of Odisha, Patnaik said passion to serve will make one win people. “A competitive spirit is the hallmark of both disciplines. Without this spirit, great achievements are not possible.

Referring to his government’s welfare schemes, the Chief Minister said it decided that all the kuchha houses in Odisha should be converted to Pucca houses.
“We used to construct 5 lakh houses in 5 years. The challenge was to construct about 20 lakh houses in 5 years. One of the main strategies that worked for us was to create competitive spirit amongst the districts,” he said.

The achievers were recognized fuelling further competition. And it resulted in a record 2 million families getting shelter security, Patnaik asserted. He complimented THE HINDU for instituting this award and creating a competitive atmosphere among the States. “Mr. Ram, next year, there’s going to be more competition……. Whoever wins or loses……sports and sports development will be the winners,” he said.