Naomi Osaka launches Play Academy in partnership with Nike and Laureus
August 14, 2020
In partnership with Nike and Laureus Sport for Good, tennis star Naomi Osaka announced the launch of Play Academy, a grant program to help girls from underrepresented communities become involved in sports and maintain active lifestyles, starting in Tokyo.
This initiative builds on Nike’s Made to Play efforts to get children in Tokyo active with an accelerated focus on providing more opportunities for girls to play. Tokyo has some of the highest global rates of girls dropping out of sport – at more than twice the rate of boys – by age 15.
"Through the Play Academy, I want girls to be happy with sports and play and to be aware of their potential, Osaka said in the announcement. "I wonder if such girls can become role models that the next generation will aim for.
“I believe in the power of sport to create bigger change, and I’m passionate about inspiring the next generation of female athletes. But not all girls, especially girls from underserved communities, have the same opportunities or role models that I’ve had, I want to do something about it.”
Girls who are active are not only healthier and do better in school, in their careers and in the community, but they also have an increased sense of self, positive coping skills and increased goal setting.
Play Academy aspires to level the playing field for girls through sports experiences that help them break free from gender stereotypes. The initiative seeks to increase girls’ participation in sport by investing in fun, positive play experiences and inviting young women to become role models, as well as other evidence-based approaches including coaches who are trained in gender-inclusivity.
“Play and sport can have a positive, life-long impact on kids, but not all kids get the opportunity to participate,” explained Miki Morimoto, Nike’s Director of Social & Community Impact, Asia Pacific. “Girls especially face additional barriers, including a lack of diverse opportunities to engage in play and sport, fewer female coaches or role models and cultural barriers. We have the opportunity to help change that through Play Academy and our partnership with Naomi.”
With the grant-making process already underway, the initiative will support Japan-based community organizations that use play and sport to change the lives of girls by providing funding and capacity-building training through partner Laureus Sport for Good in areas such as gender-inclusivity.
“Helping to facilitate the power of athletes to inspire children and young people to change the world for the better is at the core of Laureus’ work,” said Adam Fraser, Chief Executive of Laureus Sport for Good Global. “This initiative, championed by a role model like Naomi, will provide new opportunities for girls in Tokyo to benefit from sport and will support our ambition to contribute to girls and women's equal participation and leadership.”
Recognizing the need for strong allies, Osaka has also united BODYARMOR Sports Drink and Yonex to share in her commitment to invest in and support change for girls.
Laureus Sport for Good Foundation is an Official Supporter of the Beyond Sport Global Awards and a co-creator of the Sport for Good Response Fund alongside Beyond Sport.