Bhubaneswar, Dec 4: Manpower and effective management are two necessary tools to organise any big event. While Hockey India and the Government of Odisha have left any stone unturned to make the ongoing Men’s Hockey World Cup a success, several volunteers drawn from city colleges and sports hostel are working silently day and night to achieve the goal.
These volunteers, both boys and girls, are engaged in various activities such as crowd management, taking care of the VVIP enclosure, assisting the medical team and lending a hand to the workforce in and around the Kalinga Stadium here. Sweta Mishra, team leader of the technical committee unit of the state government’s Sports and Youth Service Department, said that more than 200 volunteers, including 140 plus from the sports hostels in Bhubaneswar, Sundargarh and Rourkela and around 60 from KIIT and KISS and Birla Global University, are working overtime as volunteers since the inaugural ceremony of the World Cup, November 28.
“Every day they work tirelessly to assist the officials in seat arrangement, help fans at Fan Village and also lend a helping hand to the players whenever required. This is a perfect learning opportunity for the young boys and girls. They are also learning many things from the players. Precisely speaking, they are doing a great work in making the event a great success,” Mishra said.
“What is important is that the volunteers from the sports hostels are getting a golden opportunity to watch the international players so closely and learn from them as well. On the other hand, the volunteers too are striving day and night to make the event a success. It’s a win-win situation for all,” she added.
One of the volunteers, Amit Pradhan, a sports hostel student from Sundargarh district in Odisha, said that he had also volunteered during the Hockey World League Final (HWLF) last year. “It is an overwhelming experience for me to be a part of such a mega event and watching some of the top international hockey stars from close quarters.” Sekhar Choudhary, another volunteer, said “I am very excited to be associated as a volunteer in such an event taking place in my home state.” An elated Sekhar said that he is big fan of the Australian hockey team and has secured an autograph of his favourite player Aran Zalewski.
KC Chaudhary, a hockey coach and in-charge of the sports hostel Bhubaneswar, said, “Many young hockey players of the sports hostel are getting the opportunity to watch the hockey icons so closely. This opportunity will do them a world of good and will help them in perfecting their game.”
ARINDAM GANGULY, OP
