Bhubaneswar, Feb 21 (UNI) Over four thousand athletes and 1000 officials from around 200 Universities across the country are scheduled to participate in the Khelo India University Games(KIUG) to be held in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack from today.
KIIT and KISS University is hosting the event considered as the largest of its kind sports extravaganza of the union ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and a dream project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The event will be launched from Jawaharlal Indoor Stadium at Cuttack. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the participants through video conferencing.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is scheduled to inaugurate the sports extravaganza which will continue till March 1 next.
Addressing newsmen here KIIT & KISS founder Achyut Samanta said 147 athletes from four Universities of Odisha will participate in the meet.
The highest number of 100 participants from KIIT Deemed to be University are taking part in KIUG followed by 25 from Utkal University, 20 from Sambalpur University and the rest from the Berhampur University.
The participants will vie for medals in 17 different events. Out of the 17 events, while two events will be conducted at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, two events would be organised at Jawahar Lal Nehru stadium, Cuttack and the rest in KIIT University.
Dr Samanta said hosting such a coveted event, Odisha undoubtedly is going to script history in the Indian sports",
He said both the union and the state governments are providing all kinds of support and cooperation for the event.
The expenditure for the KIUG will be one-fourth of the expenditure made for organising the Khelo India Event held in Assam recently as the KIIT & KISS Deemed University will provide free accommodations to the participants, Dr.Samant said.
Government of India decided to choose KIIT to host Khelo India University Games as it is the one and only University in India where adequate international standard sports infrastructure and facilities are available.

KIIT has the distinction of successfully hosting numerous National and International Games over the years to its credit. It has created and groomed many internationally acclaimed sports persons. All these have been possible only because of its excellent infrastructure.
Among others, Parminder Singh Ahluwalia, Coordinator, IAU for Khelo India, Somesh Upadhyay from Sports & Youth Services, Govt of Odisha; Dr Samita Samanta, the Pro-VC and joint Chief Executive Officer of KIUG, Dr Gaganendu Dash, Member Advisory Council & Director Sports, KIIT Deemed to be University, Olympian and KIIT student Dutee Chand and Rutuparna Panda, Indian badminton player was present on the occasion.
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