The trip towards this Hockey Men's World Cup have been interesting yet and exciting one.
From the sudden change of Covid Policy by the Indian authority on 29th December 22 to list various Asean Countries as 'High Risk' entrants where passengers from Singapore were listed as part of it, to the uncertainties of what to expect at an unfamiliar place (Rourkela) to play Hockey in a newly built stadium. Anxiety and some form of anxiousness was definitely on a high since before taking off from home. To top everything off, work demands have been constant and trying to juggle everything all at once is definitely not something i was quite looking forward to.
Trip from SGP to BBI was smooth (1 hour delay of DEL - BBI is not unexpected) and the best decision i made so far was to upgrade my seat in Air Vistara from Economy to Premium Economy at a $100-odd bucks top up. Good start to the tournament i must say!
1 night snooze at a good hotel in Bhubaneswar, Lemon Tree Premier, and exchanging all the pleasantry with colleagues and friends whom we have not met for sometime now due to Covid or just not appointed together in the past couple of years, off we go on a propeller plane to a new city within Odisha (India's best kept secret)towards the new purpose built Hockey Facility, Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium at Rourkela for some Hockey action for the next 16 days.
The accommodation we are at are dormitories built right beside the mega stadium where it will be converted to become a High Performance Centre for Indian National Men's and Women's team was what we were told. The bus ride here from the main and only commercial airport was 2 hours with Police and Army escort all the way where we beat some traffic and avoided some cows through the journey.
No TV and bed as tough as nails is where we will be putting up for the next 10 days at least was what we are told for the officiating team appointed here. Internet and hot water is still a hit and miss. Temperature changes with a blink of eye and the cold wind blows.
For this world cup one thing was for sure was that anything can happen in India as we were told the mega structure was built within 15 months and the many steel production factories here in Rourkela will remain shut for the period of the tournament. Amazing and mind blowing to be honest. The investment from the local government as a whole is just massive and kind of unimaginable in the context of any other nation in the world. To think that commercial interests can be put on hold to host Sports is just beyond my personal imagination where we know by now, dollars and cents rule the world. Top line, bottom line makes the world goes round in today's economy.
A last meeting and chat shortly plus visiting the stadium once more after my afternoon run on the pitch will be us now, preparing and being almost ready for the games tomorrow where 4 nations will be playing for their own glory.
Stay tuned as we navigate towards the wonders of the upcoming World Cup. It will be absolutely memorable to say the least.
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