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ESPN expands safe spaces initiative to India

BANGALORE, India – Executive Vice President and Managing Director, ESPN International, Russell Wolff and Vice President, ESPN India and South Asia, Ramesh Kumar, along with employees from the ESPN India offices and the U.S., were on hand to cut the ribbon at the official dedication of a multifunctional sports space here.

The event – attended by more than 400 children, community members and ESPN employees – was a celebration of the work done by volunteers and ESPN and Disney employees to build a safe place for young people to play sports and receive life-skills programming. The event was hosted by ESPN India presenter, Raunak Kapoor, and Indian radio host, Monita Bala, and included cultural performances by young people from the community, followed by soccer and cricket matches.

India’s passion for sports and ESPN’s connection to the market (including its long-term SONY ESPN collaboration, a growing digital business and offices in both Bangalore and Mumbai) made it a great location for the fifth safe space ESPN has built in the past 18 months.

It is the first such space built in Asia, multi-function sports spaces in Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Mexico City and São Paulo.

The space was built in collaboration with the Bandepalya community and sports for development organizations, love.fútbol and Magic Bus.

Jason White of Beyond Sport produced the video.

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