The mascot was unveiled at Puri beach by the sports and youth services department of the state government. Olly is now all set to promote the event and entertain the massive crowds at the Kalinga Stadium.

Speaking on the occasion, Sports and Youth Services Minister Chandra Sarathi Behera, said “We are lucky to have Olly as our official mascot for the Hockey World Cup. Not only does he bring enthusiasm and positivity about the Hockey World Cup, he also raises awareness about hockey as a sport and sportsmanship as a virtue.”

Commenting on Olly, Sports & Youth Services Department Commissioner-cum-Secretary Vishal Dev said, “I am extremely delighted to welcome Olly back in Odisha. He plays a significant part in symbolizing the values of our state and therefore holds utmost importance to us.”

“We strongly believe that sports bring people together and provide a common ground to ignite change, therefore many exciting and necessary steps are being taken to ensure a pleasant experience for the 16 teams, officials, fans and visitors.”

Olly the Mascot represents the endangered Olive Ridley Sea Turtles whose biggest home is at the Gahirmatha Beach in Odisha.  Beaches of Odisha are a prime nesting site for these endangered sea turtles.

Through this mascot, the Government plans to contribute towards raising awareness about preserving the habitat of these beautiful creatures that co-exist with us on this planet. Meanwhile the Odisha Government is preparing to deliver the world-class games in a state- of- the -art infrastructure facility for hosting the international event.