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INDIA BECOMES THE FIRST COUNTRY IN ASIA TO BENEFIT FROM ESPN’S SAFE SPACE INITIATIVE

 Bangalore selected as the next location in India for the launch of a safe space

-  Program to include developing life skills in children and youth all through the power of sports

ESPN’s social responsibility program will expand beyond Latin America and the United States next month when Bangalore’s Bandepalya community will receive a new, multifunctional sport court that will provide the community with a safe space to convene, play and learn. The space is being built in collaboration with the community and is supported by international sports for development organizations, love.fútbol and Magic Bus.

As a key market for ESPN – given its population’s passion for sports and its appetite for quality sports content – India will be host to the fifth safe space ESPN has built after opening courts in Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Mexico City and São Paulo.

The new space and accompanying ongoing life-skills training delivered by Magic Bus will aim to provide opportunities to the youth of Bandepalya, give them and the community a safe gathering place and provide additional tools to help address some of its challenges.  In Latin America, since the opening of ESPN’s first court in May 2016, the program has reached more than 5,000 children, with youth participating in job skills, vocational and technical training.

“India is a diverse nation with the largest youth population in the world. There are pockets of underserved sections of youth.  It is imperative for people to develop skillsets that can prepare them for the new age future. Through our safe space initiative we aim to leverage sports to impart life skills amongst young people. Bandepalya in Bangalore is just a starting point and I am sure we will be able to expand this program to other parts of the country as well,” said Ramesh Kumar, vice president, ESPN India and South Asia. “This initiative is another way for ESPN to contribute towards the larger goal of using the power of sports to make a difference in the communities we are a part of."

ESPN employees and volunteers from the local community come together to build these sport courts, by contributing to the beautification, environmental and artistic identity of the spaces. Through this team effort, each sport court has a true sense of local pride and ownership as well as the respect of the surrounding community. In Bangalore, ESPN and Disney employees will join community volunteers to take part in the build of the sport space, with a special inauguration event taking place on November 2nd.

“ESPN is a firm believer in the power of sports and its ability to uplift the human spirit, change lives and teach valuable lessons and life skills,” said Russell Wolff, executive vice president and managing director, ESPN International. “We are pleased to collaborate with love.fútbol and Magic Bus to build this court in Bangalore where ESPN has a strong presence, and there is a need where we can make a difference.”

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