Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), Bhubaneswar, in an initiative 
never before, has launched the world's first ever FIFA Football for School 
Programme at KISS. Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Odisha virtually launched 
the Programme on 27th October 2021.
 
    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.
 
    Inaugurating the programme, an outcome of partnership between FIFA and 
KISS, Shri Patnaik said, “Investment in sports is investment in youth and 
future”. Shri Patnaik, who has an insuperable record in promoting sports in 
Odisha and nationwide, congratulated KIIT and KISS for sustainably creating a 
conducive ecosystem in channelising passion for sports for the last two decades.
 
    Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS had been in touch with the FIFA 
President for the last one and half years for the FIFA Football for Schools 
Programme, which has been initiated in KISS for the first time in the world. 
 
The launch ceremony was virtually graced by Dr. Nik Gugger, Hon’ble MP, 
Switzerland and Mr. Gianni Infantino, President, FIFA, while Dr. Samanta; Mr. 
Kushal Das, General Secretary – AIFF; Mr. Youri Djorkaeff, CEO - FIFA 
Foundation and other dignitaries were in attendance in person.
 
    Commending Dr. Samanta’s contributions to sports, Dr. Nik Gugger said, 
“This first ever initiative of the Football for Schools programme by FIFA in 
the world is an outcome of Dr. Samanta’s relentless contribution in the field 
of sports”.
 
    Congratulating the Chief Minister of Odisha for his revolutionary 
initiatives in promotion of sports, Mr. Gianni Infantino stated, "We are 
delighted to see Football for Schools launching in India today, one of the 
first countries in the world where it has been introduced”. Under the guidance 
of Dr. Samanta, KIIT & KISS have been creating sports infrastructure and 
handholding sportspersons since 2005.
 
    “Under the visionary leadership of Shri Naveen Patnaik, Odisha has become a 
sports hub and Bhubaneswar a sports capital. He has not forgotten to nurture 
sports at grassroots”, Dr. Samanta said. He promised all support from KIIT & 
KISS for implementation of the programme.
 
    In the run-up, a three-day ‘Capacity Building Workshop – Train the Trainer’ 
was conducted by FIFA at KISS from 25th October in which 100 Physical Education 
teachers from Odisha and over 100 football players from KIIT & KISS 
participated.

    Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1672873/FIFA_KISS_KIIT.jpg

    Source: KIIT