Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik unveiled a new era for Indian athletics and swimming today with the inauguration of India’s first Indoor Athletics Centre and Indoor Aquatic Centre at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone for the upcoming Indoor Diving Centre, further solidifying Odisha’s commitment to fostering excellence in sports.
The newly inaugurated Indoor Athletics Centre holds the distinction of being India’s first facility capable of hosting indoor continental and regional championships. Spanning an impressive 10,000 square meters, the centre will serve as the training ground for the Odisha Reliance Foundation Athletics High Performance Centre. Established in collaboration with Reliance Foundation, this center has been instrumental in nurturing emerging athletic talents.
The facility boasts a cutting-edge 200-meter synthetic track, a creation of the renowned Italian firm, Mondo SpA, known for its contributions to the Olympics. The track includes an 80m+20m running track, along with dedicated zones for long jump, triple jump, pole vault, and shot-put, meticulously designed to meet the specific requirements of various athletic disciplines.
Catering to the needs of high-performance athletes, the centre features 60 twin-sharing rooms for those undergoing full-time coaching. Notably, the facility earned the prestigious Category 1 certification from World Athletics in December 2023, adding to its iconic status.
The Indoor Aquatic Centre, another jewel in Odisha’s sports infrastructure, comprises a temperature-controlled 50m Olympic-size swimming pool and a 25m warm-up pool. With a seating capacity for 1000 spectators, this centre is well-equipped to host international championships. It also features fitness facilities, sports recovery amenities, and accommodation with 26 twin-sharing rooms. The Odisha Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) HPC, a collaboration with the JSW group, is set to operate from this aquatic center.
Central PSU – NALCO has played a crucial role in contributing to the construction of the Indoor Aquatics Center through CSR funding.
In addition to these developments, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for the Indoor Diving Centre, another futuristic addition to the Kalinga Stadium. The Diving Centre will feature a temperature-controlled diving pool of 25m, including an additional 5m for synchronized swimming, with a seating capacity for 500 spectators.
Expressing his optimism, Chief Minister Sh Naveen Patnaik stated, “The new indoor facilities will provide our athletes with the opportunity to train and compete throughout the year, without any external weather disturbances. We are confident that both the Indoor Athletics Centre and the Aquatic Centre will set new standards for sporting excellence on both international and national stages.”
The ceremony was graced by the presence of Adille Sumariwala, President of the Athletic Federation of India, Monal Choksi, Secretary of the Swimming Federation of India, Ashirbad Behera, Veteran Sports Administrator, and representatives from state associations and sports personalities.
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