“The state government has decided to set up High Performance Sports Academy at Bhubaneswar. It will have high performance sports centres in nine different types of sports. Steps are being expedited to start operation of the centres from coming financial year,” said chief secretary A.P. Padhi.

The state government is setting up the academy in collaboration with International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) and the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).

Maintaining that Bhubaneswar has been designated as sports capital by the state, he said the government is committed to promoting various types of sports from Panchyat to international level events.

The chief secretary inaugurated Odisha Forest Sports Meet-2018 Kalinga Stadium here on Saturday.

“Sports and games while promote team spirit and healthy competitiveness, it also increases health consciousness. Sports works as an incitement to many good habits of life,” said Padhi.

Forest and Environment secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra appreciated the sporting spirit of the Forest department officials.