Bhubaneswar, July 21: "Biju Patnaik Sports Award will continue under the same name," said Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi Sunday refuting the reports about change of name.

"I found out about the change of name of the Biju Patnaik Sports Award from media. Neither I have any news, nor any official decision has been made regarding the change of name," stated CM Majhi.

Majhi said that the state sports awards have been given in the name of Biju Patnaik for a long time. "My government respects illustrious people. Biju Babu's contribution is incomparable. So Biju Patnaik Sports Award will continue to carry the name and also be conducted as usual," explained the Chief Minister.

A notification, issued by the Odisha Sports and Youth Services Department, led to a wide speculation about the change of name of the Biju Patnaik Sports Award. The notification had a headline of 'Odisha Rajya Krida Samman' instead of its usual name.

However, the cash rewards of the Biju Patnaik Sports Award, which was launched by then Naveen Patnaik government in 2001-2002, remain unchanged.

The lifetime achievement award for promoting sports will carry a cash prize of Rs 3 lakh, while Rs 2 lakh will be awarded for outstanding performance in sports, and Rs 1 lakh for excellence in coaching.

Similarly, a cash award of Rs 1 lakh will be given in each of the following categories - best contribution to sports promotion, excellence in sports journalism, para-sports person of the year, upcoming athlete of the year (junior category), and sports technical official/support staff of the year.

The award recipient must be a resident of Odisha and free of any criminal convictions. It will be conferred only once per lifetime per category and can be awarded posthumously to the next of kin.

The Sports and Youth Services Department secretary will constitute a five-member scrutiny committee comprising senior officials and coaches of the department with sports director or the senior most officer of the department as head of the panel.

The awards will be presented in a special ceremony on National Sports Day (August 29) every year, the notification said.

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