Flags of different participating nations in AAC 2017 adorn the road leading into the city from the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA)
Piyush Ranjan Rout
Bhubaneswar, July 4: With just less than 24 hours to go for the opening ceremony, Bhubaneswar is already enjoying the benefits of hosting the 22nd Asian Athletics Championships 2017 (AAC 2017) what with the new synthetic as well refurbished venue, Kalinga Stadium, all decked out for the mega event. Bhubaneswar is lucky to host the championships for the third time in India after New Delhi and Pune. Originally, the event was supposed to be held in Ranchi but just around 120 days or so before the extravaganza, the host pulled out. So it was an opportunity for the proactive Orissa government to take up the challenge of setting up the stadium in just 90 days.
The AAC’s opening ceremony is July 5 and the valedictory session is July 9. With 45 nations including India arriving at AAC2017, it is the first ever gathering of so many nations in Bhubaneswar. Out of the total of 42 events there are 21 medal events for male and female athletes respectively and a last minute opportunity to qualify for the World Championships in London latter this year. There are advantages and disadvantages of holding the AAC2017 in Bhubaneswar, the state capital which holds the seventh rank in the list of most-preferred business hotspots in India according to the World Bank. The state aspires to be among the top three hotspots. The advantages of hosting such events are that it will boost the state’s economy and sports infra
structure. The city has to clean its air and streets, develop its transport system and create a brand image.
The government is doing everything it can to script a success story as a host at par with other host nations like Japan and
Singapore. Another advantage is that the championships will send a message to all participating nations about the tourist attractions of Orissa. In Bhubaneswar, people are agog about the championships, from thousands of school children who helped the games mascot, Olly, on its journey from Kalinga Stadium to the volunteers who are ensuring that everything goes smoothly, to the hundreds of thousands of spectators who will fill the venues with noise, passion and colour and the millions of sports fans around the world who will, over the week in July, likely remain glued to their television screens. On the security front, the law enforcement authorities reinforced their commitment to ensure overall security, with security person
nel guaranteeing the security of the venue as well as the hotels where players are being accommodated. In order to meet possible hazards, the state’s disaster management agencies, including fire services personnel, have been deployed in hotels as well as the venue. The city is all decked out for the sporting extravaganza. The organisers and local authorities were keen to underline the Oriya spirit that the athletes, visitors and spectators will get to witness over the weekend. Olly, the mascot, represents Olive Ridley Turtles, an endangered species that travels thousands of miles to nest in Orissa’s coast each year thereby signalling Orissa’s commitment towards environment conservation. The writer is an urban planner
