NSRCEL, Gamatics India and Khel Foundation inaugurate STEPP initiative on January 03
03 January, 2019: Gamatics India and Khel Foundation, along with NSRCEL, the vibrant start-up hub at IIM Bangalore, launched an initiative called Sports Talent Exploration and Promotion Program (STEPP) on Thursday (January 03). The pilot project is STEPP-Karnataka, focusing on identifying and nurturing sporting talent, at the grassroots, in Karnataka.
The focus of the initiative is to support sporting talent at the grassroots. “India can do wonders in sports if young talent is recognized and supported at the grassroots. The pillars of their performance – coaches, training clubs and schools – must be recognised and supported,” said Shantala Bhat, Co-founder of Gamatics.
To commemorate the inauguration of STEPP, IIMB-NSRCEL, Gamatics India and Khel Foundation organized a full-day program on sports management. The event was attended by prominent personalities from sports, government, social, corporate, investment and various other sectors. The programme was inaugurated by Prof. Sourav Mukherji, Chair, Centre for Teaching and Learning at IIMB, and a keen sportsperson himself. “Sports should be embedded as a part of education. The curriculum should be designed in such a way that it supports children who are passionate about sports,” said Prof. Mukherji.
The day was marked by seminars on topics, including School Sports Training v/s Club Sports Training, Role of Non-Profits, and CSR in Sports. The key takeaway from the discussion was that children need to be given exposure to sports and provided with the best of amenities. This would help them pursue sports as a viable career. All the panellists were of the opinion that coaching as a profession should be respected and valued in India.
The sessions also highlighted the role of media in a sportsperson’s career, defining the relationship as “symbiotic”. Speakers emphasized the power of digital media, especially crowdfunding platforms. “A sportsperson,” they believed “should never hesitate to share their story and target the right platform and community.”
The panel discussions were followed by an inspirational talk, ‘Playing from the heart’ by Ted Murray, former coach to India’s tennis star Leander Paes.
The STEPP program identified and awarded 200+ sports talents and 50+ coaches at the grassroots, 40+ sports clubs and 40+ educational institutes under this initiative. The STEPP-India program was also flagged off.