Government of Odisha will be the title sponsors of the Men’s World League final 2017 and Men’s hockey world Cup. Two of the most prestigious events on the international hockey federation (FIH) calendar will be hosted by the Odisha State capital, Bhubaneswar. The FIH and Government of Odisha have officially confirmed.
The official event titles will be the ‘Odisha Men’s Hockey World League Final Bhubaneswar 2017’ and the ‘Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018’.
The Odisha Men’s Hockey World League Final Bhubaneswar 2017 takes place between 1 and 10 December and will welcome eight of the world’s best men’s teams who, in addition to the hosts, qualify from this summer’s Hockey World League Semi-Finals.
The Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018 will take place in late November / early December in 2018 and will see 15 teams join hosts India at the event. They will qualify from the Hockey World League Semi-Finals and Continental Championships, also taking place this year.
The venue Kalinga Stadium has in the past successfully played host the 2014 Men’s Hero Hockey Champions Trophy. It is also home to the current champions of the Coal India Hockey India League – the Kalinga Lancers.
Speaking about this announcement, FIH CEO Jason McCracken said: “India is a nation with a proud hockey heritage with a history of hosting world-class sports events. Each time we return to the country, Hockey India raises the bar, embracing goals outlined in our 10-year Hockey Revolution strategy aimed at making our events innovative and exciting for our fans. We have no doubt that the Odisha Men’s Hockey World League Final Bhubaneswar 2017 and the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018 will be unforgettable events for everyone involved.”
FIH President Dr Narinder Dhruv Batra added: “Bhubaneswar is a city ready to welcome the world. Its passionate sports fans and our experienced hosts will create an incredible environment for our stars to shine during what are the two of the biggest events in our sport. We encourage fans from across the world to come together and share the glory with their teams, each of them aiming to become world champions in these respective competitions. In doing so, fans will also get to experience first-hand the rich culture and warm hospitality offered by this amazing part of the world.”
The State Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik has expressed that the global events will not only enthrall hockey fans in the state but also help promote the sport among the younger generation.
