**Bhubaneswar:** With around a week left for the much-awaited Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup, multiple agencies of the State Government are on the ball to ensure that the grand event is executed successfully.
While the home team is already camping at the Kalinga Stadium sporting complex, from Monday onward, the foreign teams have started arriving in the City.
The Argentinian hockey team, accompanied with their support staff, was the first to arrive here today morning. The contingent received a rousing welcome at the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) from where it was escorted amidst tight security to a star-hotel located in Jaydev Vihar area.
The Commissionerate of Police, entrusted with security of the visiting teams and crowd-cum-traffic management has made watertight arrangements for the upcoming sporting season. Each team will be provided with an escort vehicle while they commute between the hotel and the tournament venue (Kalinga Stadium).
“Besides, adequate security arrangement will be put in place at the places of tourist interests, which the sportspersons and delegates are likely to frequent during their stay in Bhubaneswar,” Police Commissioner Satyajit Mohanty said.
The second team to follow are the South Africans, scheduled to arrive at Bhubaneswar by Wednesday evening. On Thursday, Brazil and France teams will reach the city. The arrivals will be completed by November 25 (Sunday), the Sports and Youth Affairs Department Spoke said.
The Sports Department has planned guided tours for the teams across the city during which the players and sports officials will get an opportunity to have a close look at the rich culture and heritage of the Temple City and Odisha.
“The teams would also be visiting the ‘Fan Villages’ where sports enthusiasts can have photo-ops and star moments. All these activities will be fused into the pre-set programme of the teams. However, we will ensure that their training sessions are not interrupted,” she added.
