MUMBAI: Dream Sports Foundation (DSF), the philanthropic arm of Dream Sports, the Indian sports technology company which runs Dream11, has launched ‘Back on Track’, an initiative to support and provide financial aid to vulnerable athletes, sports professionals, academies and associated stakeholders who are part of the Indian sports ecosystem.

The initiative has come at a time when the entire sports ecosystem in India has suffered a major setback due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This has affected not just athletes but also the coaches, sporting organisations and clubs.

DSF’s programme will provide immediate aid by way of sports equipment, diet and nutrition, training and coaching, monthly stipends and hygiene kits amongst others, the company said.

Already, DSF has identified and supported over 300 athletes and coaches across the country in the first phase of the programme, and is planning to extend the aid to over 5,000 athletes in the second phase.

As part of the programme, all at-risk active and retired athletes, sports staff, academies, organisations and all related stakeholders in the Indian sports ecosystem can submit an application for support from any part of the country directly.

All applications received will be reviewed and shortlisted by a committee, comprising sports advisors and domain experts.

“Our Vision at Dream Sports is to ‘Make Sports Better’ not just for sports fans but also for the entire sports ecosystem,” said Bhavit Sheth, COO & co-founder, Dream Sports. “This initiative aims to ensure that people whose livelihood is dependent on sports do not dropout due to lack of opportunities and resources.”

He said that ‘Back on Track’ will be a long-term sustainable program focused on reaching those in need pan India. “Through this program, we will be able to support the growth of sports in India and provide sustainable growth impetus to deserving individuals, societies, bodies or organisations working towards the growth of sports and the sports ecosystem of India,” he added.

Earlier this year, DSF had supported over six lakh Indians during the Covid-19 crisis by providing cooked meals, dry ration, and hygiene kits to the underprivileged and protective gear to the frontline workers.

Last year, DSF trained 200 young athletes, from the slums of Mumbai, in professional basketball in partnership with Hi-5 Foundation.