According to a press release by Odisha FC, “Beach Soccer 2021” the first of its kind football festival in Odisha was inaugurated today at Chandrabhaga Beach, Konark. The event is being organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in collaboration with Department of Tourism, Government of Odisha with Odisha Football Club (OFC) being the Technical Partner of the event. Prominent footballers Shradhanjali Samantaray and Ranjita Mohanty registered their presence during the inauguration ceremony along with Saikat Roy Chowdhury (Regional Director – East and North East, CII), Mr. Binaya Dash (Additional District Magistrate, Puri), CII Odisha state council members and members from the Odisha FC. The festival is a maiden attempt to amalgamate football and the stunning coastline of Konark. The prime goals of the competition are encouraging tourism, health and sports in the state, industry government ties and the development of state beaches as venues for international beach soccer events. A total of 10 teams will be competing in the tournament having been divided into two groups. Group A comprises Odisha Tourism, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, CSM, Nalco and Tata Steel. Paradeep Phosphates Limited, Paradeep Port Trust, Odisha Power Transmission Corporation, Jindal Steel and Power (JSPL) and Gupta Power constitute the Group B.
