Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik virtually launched India’s first-ever FIFA Football for School Programme at the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), Bhubaneswar, on Wednesday.
Football for Schools (F4S) is an ambitious world-wide programme run by FIFA, which aims to contribute to the education, development and empowerment of around 700 million children. It seeks to make football more accessible to both boys and girls around the world.
Inaugurating the programme, an outcome of partnership between FIFA and KISS, Patnaik said, “Investment in sports is investment in youth. And investment in youth is investment in the future. Such collaboration to incorporate football activities into the education system will make football more accessible to both boys and girls at the grassroots.”
Founder, KIIT and KISS Dr Achyuta Samanta had been in touch with the FIFA president for the last one and half years for this programme.
The launch ceremony, which was held under strict Covid-19 protocol, was virtually graced Member of Parliament, Switzerland Dr Nik Gugger and president, FIFA Gianni Infantino, while Minister, Sports and Youth Services and Electronics and Information Technology, Tusharkanti Behera, Dr Samanta, AIFF general secretary Kushal Das, CEO - FIFA Foundation, Youri Djorkaeff and other dignitaries were present.