Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday virtually launched the Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) in 90 schools of Odisha.

It has been started as a pilot project in schools of Rourkela and Bhubaneswar and will be expanded to other schools in the coming days, a press release issued by the chief minister’s office said.

The OVEP is a practical set of resources designed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to introduce young people to the Olympic values of excellence, respect and friendship. The programme aims to disseminate this value-based curriculum to help children become active, healthy and responsible citizens.

Launching the programmes, Naveen said this would be the beginning of a new Olympic movement in the country. “It’s a privilege to engage with the IOC to launch this programme. We thank IOC for partnering with us in this endeavour to excel in sports.”

He acknowledged the contributions of the state’s partners in sports — president of Indian Olympic Association Dr Narinder Dhruv Batra, IOC member Nita Ambani and IOC Athletes’ Commission Abhinav Bindra for the development of sports in Odisha.

Nita Ambani lauded the launch of India’s first Olympic Values Education Programme by the IOC in Odisha, emphasising that OVEP combined the twin powers of education and sports in instilling the core Olympic values.

“Under the visionary leadership of Patnaik ji, through increased investments and dedicated efforts, Odisha has become a hub of India’s sporting ambitions. The state is actively creating a holistic ecosystem for sports, which provides top quality training and infrastructures to our young athletes,” she said.

Director of IOC culture & heritage committee Angelita Teo said Olympics education would enhance the philosophy of life. IOC education commission chairperson Mikaela C. Jaworski said the programme would be integrated into the school syllabus. Abhinav Bindra said core values of life were learned outside the classroom.

Batra said: “ With this unique movement, Odisha will set an example for other states.”

President of Odisha Hockey Promotion Council Dilip Tirkey, minister of school & mass education Sameer Ranjan Dash, minister of sports Tushar Kanti Behera, chief secretary Suresh Mohapatra, secretary, school & mass education Bishnupada secretary sports Vyneel Krishna and others were also present on the occasion.