New state funding in esports
04/19/2022 - The state of Schleswig-Holstein is strengthening its commitment to esports in another field of action. Together with EDEKA Nord and the esports player foundation (epf), the state is initiating the "E-Sport-Team Schleswig-Holstein", the first promotion of young talents in Germany on a state level.
This promotion enables the country`s talents to make the leap into the national elite. This year, ten ambitious esportsmen and women will be promoted in the games "FIFA" and "League of Legends". Talents from Schleswig-Holstein can apply now at esports-team-sh.de.
In the selection process, ten young top talents, at least two of them women, will be scouted in the titles League of Legends and FIFA and subsequently supported by the esports player foundation for at least twelve months to pave their way to the national top. The support measures include in-game coaching, sports medical and sports psychological counseling, media training, hardware equipment, nutritional advice and much more. After the application phase, the talents will be selected for the official launch of the "E-Sport-Team Schleswig-Holstein".
With the funding, the Ministry of the Interior and the nutrition partner EDEKA Nord enable the performance development of the talents and make a significant contribution to the professionalization of e-sports. The state of Schleswig-Holstein has already been doing pioneering work for years and provides sustainable support for the Esports scene, for example the E-Sport-Verband Schleswig-Holstein e.V. (EVSH), with the establishment of five regional Esports centers and the State Center for Esports and Digitization Schleswig-Holstein (LEZ SH) in Kiel.
Kristina Herbst, responsible State Secretary in the Ministry of the Interior, said: "We accompany and promote the development of Esports in Schleswig-Holstein as a state government, in order to be able to ensure important social-ethical framework conditions for us. With the previous state funding of a total of 1.5 million euros for numerous e-sports projects, primarily broad sports structures have been created, from which performance-oriented e-sports can now grow. The "E-Sport-Team Schleswig-Holstein" is now - in community with EDEKA North as well as the esports player foundation - professionally promoted and accompanied media-pedagogically, health-promoting and according to sporting aspects."
Stefan Giese, Managing Director EDEKA North, explains: "For us at EDEKA North it is clear: Sport and a balanced diet belong together. Even those who practice e-sports have to keep fit and pay attention to their diet. We are pleased to expand our diverse social commitment to include support for the Schleswig-Holstein e-sports team. In the joint sponsorship with the state and epf, we are involved as a nutrition partner for the e-sport athletes. In this way, we can combine two aspects that are important to us: To convey our love for food and to support young talents on their own way."
Jörg Adami, Co-Founder of the esports player foundation adds:"With the e-sports team Schleswig-Holstein, talents from the northernmost federal state get a unique chance to train in a highly professional environment and prepare for a career as an e-sports professional. We thank the state of Schleswig-Holstein and partner EDEKA Nord for their commitment and hope that other states will follow this example."
The esports player foundation is the world`s first not-for-profit funding institution dedicated to the holistic promotion of talent in esports. Since its founding in January 2020, it has already helped more than 100 talented players on their way to the top of the world by planning dual careers, professionalizing training, and teaching responsible lifestyles.
Source: Press release
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-Sport