Putting all efforts to make a memorable spectacle of the coming Asian Athletics Championship as a `mahakumbh’ of all events in the region and celebrate the glory of sports, the city authorities have planned the coming Patha Utsav as an extravaganza of musical performances clubbed with a series of events having athletics as the central theme.
This special Patha Utsav is expected to have a sea of people from different walks of life including large number of students from different schools and witness the formal welcome of the game in the city by Hon’ble Chief Minister amidst a grand event and star-studded musical street fest.
While the authorities plan to bring a famed celebrity singer who will be performing for the people to keep the mood of the event, renowned dance troupes will add to the elements of the event making it more memorable. The presence of Hon’ble Chief Minister will make this occasion more special as he will be announcing the various programmes related to the game and make a formal appeal to people of the city to be part of the mega sports event, while welcoming all athletes from over 45 countries.
Meanwhile, an inspiring video released today by Hon’ble Chief Minister has already ready made a mark on the Asian Athletics Championship (AAC) with elements of Odisha’s wildlife, culture, diversities and beauty captured in a beautiful and striking way. After the Hockey India League, the AAC would be the most sought-after sports event to happen on the land of Kalinga in which 45 nations would participate and 800 officials and sports persons from across Asia would take part. During the championship slated from July 5th to 9th, the entire city is expected to converse at Kalinga Stadium complex, the venue which is hosting the Asian Athletics Championship 2017.
Educational institutions, corporate houses and IT companies will also be roped in to have special programme called “Walk with Olly’’ in which, the mascot of the game, Olly will come to the venue from the various campuses. Cut outs of Olly and inflated models of the mascot would be there at the venue of Patha Utsav this Sunday to attract the crowd.
While the on-stage events will be selected with their crowd-pulling elements in mind, off-stage events like quiz, selfie zones, Rangoli and painting competitions would also be organised among the school and college-going youth to connect them with the mega sports event, which will put Odisha on the world map.
Plan is also there to have all 45 flags of the participating nations along the Janpath even after the Patha Utsav and till the game is over at Kalinga Stadium to make a lasting impression on the city’s hospitality scenario and encourage people to have more focus on the game.
Tomorrow there will be a final preparatory meeting at BMC Conference Hall at 5 pm in which all departments like Sports and Youth Services, H&UD and Works will take part to finalise the details for the AAC.