Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik Inaugurates India’s First Indoor Athletics and Aquatic Centres

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated India’s first indoor athletics stadium and indoor aquatic centre at the Kalinga stadium in Bhubaneshwar. The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone for a new indoor diving centre in the stadium complex.

According to Patnaik, the new indoor facilities will help athletes train throughout the year without fear of weather-related disturbances.

India’s First Indoor Athletics Stadium

• The newly developed indoor athletics stadium is the first of its kind in India.
• It has facilities to host national and international athletic events.
• The stadium, built at an estimated cost of Rs 120 crore, can accommodate 120 athletes for full-time coaching.
• It also has a classroom for studies, medical facilities, and a dedicated pantry for athletes.
• Italian company Mondo SpA has set up a 10,000 sq. meter track in the stadium.
• The stadium has facilities for long jump, triple jump, 100m and 200m race tracks, pole vault, and shot put events.
• It will be a training ground for the Odisha Reliance Foundation Athletics High-Performance Centre.

Indoor Aquatic Centre

• The indoor aquatic centre has a 50-meter Olympic-size pool and a 25-meter warm-up pool with temperature control.
• It has a seating capacity of 1000 and can hold national and international events.
• The Odisha Inspire Institute of Sport High-Performance Center will operate from this aquatic centre.
• The Inspire Institute of Sport in Odisha is a sports coaching centre that trains athletes for the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, and other boxing, wrestling, judo, and athletics events.

Indoor Diving Centre

• The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone for an Indoor Diving Centre to be built at the Kalinga Stadium complex.
• The diving centre will have a diving pool of 25 meters with an additional 5-meter pool for synchronized swimming.
• The diving pool will be temperature-controlled.

The inauguration of these world-class indoor facilities at the Kalinga Stadium complex in Bhubaneshwar is a significant step towards promoting sports and providing state-of-the-art training infrastructure for athletes in India.