Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday inaugurated the Football For School program at Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) in a joint venture with Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). He inaugurated the ceremony in a virtual meeting.
The inauguration ceremony was held amid proper Covid protocols in the presence of KIIT & KISS founder Achyuta Samanta, Switzerland MP Nick Gugger, Minister for Youth Affairs Tusharkanti Behera, additional charge of Commissioner-cum-Secretary to Government, Sports and Youth Services Department R. Vineel Krishna, General Secretary at All India Football Federation (AIFF) Kushal Das, President of Football Association of Odisha Debashish Samantaray and Secretary Of Football Association of Odisha Ashirbad Behera.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Chief Executive Officer of FIFA Youri Djorkaeff, Project Leader FIFA Football for Schools Alexandre Gros, Coordinator FIFA Football for Schools Alexandra Huete, Consultant FIFA Football for Schools Alberto Giacomini and Consultant – FIFA Football for Schools Antonio Buenano attended ceremony via video conferencing.
The program was launched in partnership with FIFA for the first time in India. Chief Minister Patnaik said that the investment in sports is an investment for the youth while inaugurating the program. He also praised KIIT and KISS for their efforts over the past two decades to promote sports and sports persons.
KIIT founder Achyuta Samanta addressed the ceremony. He said that the efforts of the FIFA President would create interest in football among school students in India.
It is to be noted that the program could not be started due to the corona pandemic. FIFA has been training the students since October 25 which was attended by sports teachers from 100 schools in the state and 100 football players from KIIT and KISS.
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Ms Kalinga