Feast & fest: Odisha goes all out for Hockey World Cup that begins Jan 13

State's biggest cultural extravaganza to coincide with tournament that is expected to increase tourism by 70%

Teams of Argentina and South Africa will kick off this year’s edition of FIH (International Hockey Federation) World Cup Hockey in the swanky 16,000-capacity Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on January 13, 2023.

With 16 teams, including 2018 champions Belgium, participating in the 17-day sporting event (it ends on January 29) in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela, the Odisha government is expecting a surge of over 70 per cent in the number of tourists visiting the state during the tournament.

In 2021, Rs 356.38 crore was earmarked for the makeover of the Kalinga Stadium and the construction of the brand new 20,000-capacity hockey