Odisha will invite chief ministers of all the states to witness the upcoming FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup, beginning January 13.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik will write letters requesting his counterparts to come to Bhubaneswar and witness the tournament. It has also decided to invite schools and colleges across the country to see the World Cup.

Naveen shared his thoughts on the issue while presiding over an all-party meeting on the preparations for the tournament on Thursday evening.

In order to ensure that nothing goes wrong and everyone is united to project brand Odisha during the hockey world cup, Naveen solicited the cooperation of all.

Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan also attended the meeting.

The BJP and Congress leaders thanked the chief minister for making all out efforts to make it the best possible tournament. Odisha is organising the hockey World Cup for the second consecutive time.

Attending the all-party meet, Pradhan said: “The rich history of hockey in Odisha and the experience of organising the two successive hockey World Cups find mention in the NCERT textbooks meant for students.”

Pradhan also suggested that coffee table books should be prepared in 16 languages as players and staff from 16 countries will come here to participate in the World Cup.

“The players should be given gifts produced in the state only,” said Pradhan.

The Men’s Hockey World Cup will begin on January 13 and continue till January 29.

A few matches will be played in the newly built Birsa Munda Hockey stadium in the steel city of Rourkela in Sundergarh district, known as the cradle of Indian hockey.

The opening ceremony will be held at Barabati stadium in Cuttack on January 11. Odisha plans to set a benchmark and amaze the global sports audience with its spectacular hosting of the Hockey World Cup.

The state has also planned to organise socio-cultural entertainment programmes in four cities — Bhubaneswar, Rourkela, Berhampur and Sambalpur.

The trophy, at present on a country-wide tour for exhibition, would arrive in Bhubaneswar on December 25 and be taken around the city, giving fans and the public a chance to have a glimpse of the prestigious trophy before the winning team lifts it on January 29.